At 31 March 2017, there were 72,670 looked-after children. Sixty-one per cent of these children were looked after due to an initial need of abuse or neglect and 15 per cent due to family dysfunction. Most children are looked after under a care order; the numbers of children looked after under a care order continue to increase and the number who are looked after through a voluntary arrangement continue to decrease. By comparison, the number of children in need at 31 March 2017 was 389,430.
Children's services have various duties towards children, but their involvement does not always lead to children being taken away from their parents or carers. Accordingly, their involvement may lead to three main different outcomes: a Child in Need Plan, a Child Protection Plan or a Care Order.
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