Study shows safeguarding pressures 'more complex and urgent'

The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) Safeguarding Pressures research found that the three key problems were present in between 65 and 80 per cent of child protection cases, with one area in the eastern region reporting they were present in 90 per cent of cases.

Some of the 132 local authorities that contributed to the study - the fifth phase of a research programme that began in 2007/08 - reported that instances of domestic abuse were at "epidemic" levels.

Domestic abuse accounted for nearly half of all "child in need" cases coming to the attention of children's social care services, it found.

Many of the challenges facing children's safeguarding services, while not new, are becoming "more complex, urgent and prevalent", the report notes.

The number of section 47 enquiries - conducted by councils when a child is suspected to be suffering or at risk of significant harm - has risen 4.9 per cent in the past year. Meanwhile, the number of child protection plans has increased 3.4 per cent since 2014, when phase four of the study took place.

Other significant pressures highlighted in the report include the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children being accommodated by local authorities, which has more than doubled from 2,050 in March 2014 to 4,210 in March 2016.

In addition, for the first time councils reported on the number of children at risk from sexual exploitation - across 100 responding authorities, 13,466 children were identified, which if extrapolated across all councils would mean there are 20,000 at risk from child sexual exploitation.

However, the research indicates pressures are easing in other areas of safeguarding activity. The number of initial contacts and referrals fell seven per cent compared with 2013/14, while children in need reduced three per cent.

Encouragingly, early help assessments were up 11 per cent since 2014, despite deep cuts to early intervention funding over the past two years.

Dave Hill, ADCS president, said the study shows children and young people's needs are becoming more complex and widespread.

"Worryingly, the growing prevalence and the impact of the ‘toxic trio' continues to be a major concern for our members and their teams," he said.

"Without addressing the root causes of some of these issues we will never see the sort of reductions we would like to see in terms of fewer children coming into care allowing us to do even better for those who are already in our care.
 
"Given that 40 per cent of respondents predict that levels of demand will continue to increase, there's a growing sense that we are approaching a tipping point that, if reached, will impact on generations of children."
 
For more analysis on the ADCS Safeguarding Pressures research, click here or see the latest edition of CYP Now magazine.