The state of the children's care market has been described as a ‘scar on the conscience of our country' amid warnings over the lack of placements available for vulnerable young people.

At the same time, pressure is piling on the Government to address the gaping hole in children's social care funding after council leaders yesterday revealed 75% of authorities overspent on their children's services budgets last year, amounting to more than half a billion pounds across the country.