Some children have been in temporary care for a few years

Currently there are at least 20 children living in short-term foster homes or in residential accommodation who need long-term placements.

Tony Le Sueur from Jersey's Children Service says some children are spending far too long in what is intended as a temporary situation.

Mr Le Sueur warned in February that foster caring would be hit by plans to scrap an increase in allowances.

He said: "The children have been in care over six months and some have been there for a few years, which is a long time.

"Clearly they need to be in families. Children's homes, with the best will in the world, are not going to replace an actual family.