SOCIAL work bosses want to reduce the number of young people living in residential care places outside of Inverclyde as they face a £1.4 million overspend.

As part of a major redesign of the frontline service Inverclyde health and social care partnership plans to step up early intervention for families, and encourage more people into fostering.

A report to the social work and social scrutiny panel by chief officer Kate Rocks examines the huge challenges they have faced since the pandemic and with the cost of living crisis.

She said: "We want to reflect differing approaches to intensive supports that reflect the needs of older young people moving towards greater independence and younger children to support them to remain in Inverclyde or return to the local area.

"This will also seek to address the current financial pressures on budgets, where external placements are the main factor in the current £1.4m projected overspend for children’s residential services."