THE number of children in Blackburn with Darwen Council's care increased over the last year and pressure on services 'remains high'.

By the end of March, there were 377 children and young people in care across the borough, up from 363 in March 2017.

But the number fell over the final quarter of the year from a peak of 384.

In 2016 numbers started to rise significantly and have remained high.

Bosses say the availability of foster placements both in-house and through independent agencies has become increasingly challenging throughout the year particularly for older children and sibling groups.

Compared to previous years, the percentage of children in foster care, particularly in in-house placements has reduced significantly.

In 2016, 70 per cent of children were looked after in foster care compared to 57 per cent at the moment.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive board will be updated on quarter four statistics in a meeting at the town hall next week.

A report to go before the board states: "The number of children in the care of the local authority reduced slightly in quarter four but numbers remain high leading to pressure being placed on all types of placements including  fostering.

"In the last two years the service has gone from having 70 per cent of children in care in foster placements to 57 per cent at the end of this quarter and the percentage of those in in house placements has reduced from 42 per cent to

31 per cent.

"The percentage in agency placements has remained fairly static due to placements being unavailable.

"As a result of this the number of children in very costly agency residential placements has increased.

"The overall number of foster carers registered with the service dropped in quarter four due to the fluctuation in the number of family and friends foster carers; however, the number of mainstream carers increased slightly.

"Recruitment activity and particularly social media campaigns have brought

some strong enquiries that are converting to assessment.

"The number of carers in assessment at the end of quarter four was significantly higher than the total number approved in the whole of the previous 12 months.

"The number of viability and family and friends assessments required by the courts has continued to rise and has compromised the capacity of the service to prioritise mainstream assessments of much needed foster carers.

"Agreement was reached to transfer some resource from the assessment and

safeguarding teams to enable the fostering service to take on this work and alleviate some of the pressure for the large numbers of these assessments.

"The expertise for these assessments lies within fostering and it therefore makes sense to transfer the work and the resource.

"This is due to happen in July 2018 when new social workers come into post."