OXFORDSHIRE County Council is leading a joint venture with five other councils to provide better residential and education provision for vulnerable children and young people.
The project will focus on children with complex and challenging needs who require particularly intensive help and support.
Other local authorities involved are Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Bracknell Forest, Reading and Hertfordshire.
In the past, individual authorities commissioned services for children, often away from home for lack of provision locally.
The new arrangement will mean children can be placed closer to their family and services provided by their home authorities.
The service aims to begin early in 2011 and will offer 20 placements.
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