Many Southend children in care are to be placed back with their families in an effort to cut costs, it has been revealed

Over the next three years social services bosses want to reduce the number of youngsters the authority looks after from around 250 to 200.

It is hoped the move will go some way towards saving £1.3m - the amount needed to be slashed from the department's budget in the next financial year.

However, social services director Jane Held warned there could be dangers.

She said: "If children are at risk of significant harm, this target may be difficult to achieve because of the legal requirement to put a child's welfare first."

She added: "We will have an increased expectation that parents will continue to exercise their parental responsibilities when experiencing difficulties.

"More children will also remain within families, with support, despite complex circumstances when appropriate."

Consultants are looking at efficiency savings in home care as a further way of cutting spending, councillors on the social services committee will be told tomorrow.

Cuts will be made to services offered at the town's Family Centre, with the result that some users will see their help withdrawn.

Ms Held said: "This will be compensated in part by a re-focusing of activity which will improve the support available to families, and is intended to strengthen our in-house capacity to provide services we would otherwise have to commission."

Tighter constraints are also to be placed on services for physical and sensory disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health.

Overtime and use of agency staff will be reduced, and no vacant post will be filled until it is deemed absolutely necessary. The overall staff training budget will also be reduced.

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