“More and more children are being moved away from their homes, with profound consequences for their relationships and education,” Richards said.
“Quite simply, the current care system is not fit for purpose.”
In Rotherham 55% of the 448 children under the council’s care were residing outside the local authority area, figures from Become showed.
Council leader Chris Read said the authority recorded placements within 20 miles of their family home and beyond.
“By this measure 80% of children in care are placed within 20 miles – which is better than the national or regional average of other councils,” he said.
“Sadly, some children will always need to be placed further away, either because they require specialist services, or for their own safety.”
He said the council measured placements by the distance from their home rather than local authority boundaries because it felt it was fairer.
“A child from my ward in Swinton, for example, would be much closer to home 10 minutes away in Mexborough, which falls into the Doncaster local authority,” he said.
“Incentivising a placement in Aston – two bus rides and a 90-minute journey away – would put them further from school and support networks, but it would keep them within the Rotherham boundary.
“It is important that when legislating, politicians do not simply inflict unintended consequences.”
A second reading of the bill is due to take place on Friday 28 March.
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external.
