London Councils have said that London boroughs need even more investment in child social care than the government's new strategy allows. 

Last week the UK government launched a new strategy to fix children's social care, designating £200 million over the next two years to help provide families with earlier help for things like addiction, domestic abuse, or mental health to help families stay together. 

However, whilst London Councils welcome the suggestions in this plan, they believe that due to London boroughs already being greatly overstretched dealing with child social care, that they would require a greater amount of funding than this plan allows. 

Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils' Executive Member for Children & Young People, said: "Vulnerable children in London and across the country deserve high-quality social care that will not only keep them safe but help them thrive. 

"The government is right to recognise the massive pressures facing the system and the need both for reform and more resources.  

"Boroughs will certainly welcome the strategy's emphasis on early intervention, joined-up help for struggling families, and expanding councils' social care workforce. 

"In London, boroughs are working together on these shared challenges, driving innovation and best practice through collaboration. It is positive that the strategy acknowledges the impact of this approach. 

"However, funding looks set to remain a major concern. We estimate that London boroughs are collectively overspending on children's social care budgets by around £200 million each year because of the immense support needs in our communities.  

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"A sustained growth in investment for local services will be essential for making these ambitions a reality – and we look forward to working with ministers to help ensure this happens." 

In addition to this earlier intervention, foster homes will receive an above inflation increase in their allowance to help them provide a good level of care, and an investment of £25 million from the government over the next two years in a recruitment and retention program to attract more people to offer homes to children. 

Government Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho said: "Children in care deserve the same love and stability as everyone else. Yet we've seen from the 2 tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson that more needs to be done to protect our most vulnerable children. 

"Our wide-ranging reforms will put strong relationships at the heart of the care system. From supporting our brilliant foster carers, kinship carers and social workers to getting early help to families and improving children's homes, we want every child to get the support and protection they need."