A mother has described her son being moved 90 miles (145km) away to a care home as “devastating”.
Louise Johnstone’s son Leo has a rare genetic condition and is being cared for in Preston, which she said was a long way from their Wigton home.
According to recent figures, 55% of children looked after by Cumberland Council are placed more than 20 miles (32 km) from home, the highest rate in England.
The council said it had reduced the number of young people in care and made significant improvements to children’s services.
Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which now funds Leo’s care, said proximity to home was one of its “main considerations” in finding care places.
Ms Johnstone said: “It’s really devastating.
“I remember how I felt the day he left here and went to a place he’d never been before.”
Leo has FOXP1 syndrome which affects brain development, affecting learning and speech.
He moved into a care home in 2021 when his needs became too much for his parents to care for at home.
He is now 18 and his care is fully funded by the NHS, but was previously looked after by Cumbria County Council, which was abolished in 2023. In revitalizing local councils.
Josh McAllister, Labor MP for Whitehaven and Workington, who took the lead. Review of children’s social care The previous government called for “disadvantaged” vulnerable children to be removed from their communities.
Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of children’s charity Become, said distant places can be “disruptive” and “traumatic”.
Cumberland Council, which was set up last year, said it had improved children’s services by achieving a “good” Ofsted rating.
Labor council leader Mark Freer said: “The previous county council was either inadequate or in need of improvement for nearly 20 years and in 18 months we have rated it as good – a great achievement.”
The council also said it planned to build new, local children’s homes.