The Innovation Programme was intended to both improve outcomes for children in the social care system and produce savings. The Department accepts that residential care in children’s homes can be expensive and it is often a last resort where they do not ideally want children to be.38 The Care Review reports the cost of places in children’s homes running as high as £5000–7000 per week.39 The Care Review also sets out the improved health, attainment, employment and sibling connection outcomes for children supported 31 C&AG’s Report, para 16 32 Q 34 33 EPC0005 p.2 34 Qq 40–41 35 Qq 32–34 36 The independent review of children’s social care, Final Report, p.12 37 Qq 32, 35 38 Q 78 39 The independent review of children’s social care, Final Report, p.121 12 Evaluating innovation projects in children’s social care through kinship care compared to other residential settings.40 Our witnesses described the ‘huge priority’ around supporting children to live in families, whether kinship care or fostering in line with the recommendations of the Care Review.41