Children-in-need data indicates referrals decline
The number of children-in-need referrals is at its lowest level for three years, according to latest government figures.
The Department for Education (DfE) children-in-need census figures for 2012/13 show that 593,500 referrals were made to children’s services. This is a 1.9 per cent fall on the previous year’s figure of 605,100 and the lowest since the first census was compiled in 2009/10. But despite the drop in referrals the number of children granted the status rose slightly during the same period from 369,400 to 378,600. Children-in-need status covers a range of services including family support, leaving care, disability support and adoption. The area with the highest rate of children in need is Middlesbrough, where the rate is 785.3 per 10,000 children. The lowest is Wokingham with a rate of 154.4. A slightly higher proportion of boys (53 per cent) are given the status and the largest age group within the children in need population is 10 to 15 years old, which is similar to the previous year. The figures also show that an increasing amount of children are being given child-in-need status due to abuse or neglect. The proportion rose from 45.5 per cent to 47.3 per cent between 2011/12 and 2012/13 and remains the most common reason for the status. In addition, the number of children at risk of harm subject to a child protection plan has risen by 1.1 per cent to 52,700 in 2012/13. Also, fewer children in need are being re-referred to children’s services, the figures show. The proportion of re-referrals dipped from 26.1 per cent in 2011/12 to 24.9 per cent in 2012/13. Nushra Mansuri, professional officer at the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), said a possible cause for the drop in referrals and increase in children in need and child protection cases was that councils were getting better at identifying children that need support. Improvements she cites include the creation of multi-agency safeguarding hubs (Mashs), where social workers work alongside police and other children’s professionals to filter referrals and prioritise cases. She said: “There have been developments such as the creation of Mashs, which are improving the way referrals are dealt with and prioritised.”
Source: CYPNow
