WORK with children and families is falling short in some areas at Dorset Council with many areas of performance now labelled as "worsening."

The authority, which is highly rated for children's services, admits it is "not where it wants to be" for some aspects of its care of children and young people.

Almost every aspect of child care at Dorset Council is current labelled as red with four of six areas shown as "worsening." Only one, the number of special needs tribunals against the council, is improving.

A report to councillors suggests that changes to current working practices being discussed with staff and the use of Artificial Intelligence might solve some of the problems, although the Local Democracy Reporting Service has been told there is resistance to the proposed new working arrangements among many social workers with claims that the 'negotiations' appear to many to have already been decided by the authority.

The council admits that its less than perfect performance over Education Health and Care Plan cases has been hampered by staff not yet adept in using the new case management system, vacancies in some areas and delays in inducting permanent and interim worker.

A People and Health Scrutiny committee due to meet next week (Jan 21st) will be told Dorset remains way above its target for the number of children in care being looked after outside the county – 45per cent compared to a target of 30per cent, with similar counties achieving 33per cent. The figure has worsened since July when it was 41per cent.

More than 40 per cent of those being cared for outside the county are more than 20 miles away from their home, 60 per cent of those being in neighbouring counties although some of those being cared for are with family members, other than parents.

Dorset Council's policy is to have as many children in its care being looked after within the county although ensures that those who are further away are regularly visited by a social worker from Dorset.

But the report concedes that being cared for away from home may have an emotional and financial additional cost: "Having children in homes outside of Dorset provides significant financial pressures, as homes are higher cost and there are additional travel costs and time pressures for social workers," said the most recent report into performance withing children's services.

The report says that recruiting additional foster carers within in Dorset would help alleviate the situation although recruiting, vetting and training can take a long time – with 19 mainstream foster carers being assessed in September 2025 and 16 'kinship carers.'

Other problem areas within the service include an increase in the number of children subject to repeat child protection plans, a worsening figure which is also above target, and a family with children which has been in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks.

Also worsening is permanent exclusions from school with nine additional cases reported over a three month period, predominantly affecting pupils in years 8 and 10.