In a written response to the education select committee’s inquiry into the child protection system, the college argued that a rise in caseloads is diluting professionals’ ability to offer early intervention to children and families before they reach crisis point.
"There has been a vast increase in referrals, and subsequent assessment, since November 2009, which has arguably overwhelmed many local authorities," it said.
"This has consequently affected health professionals, including doctors, who are facing an increase in the number of children requiring paediatric examination and experiencing raised thresholds for referral when they have concerns.
"Many authorities are, due to increased workload and diminishing resource, focusing on children in need of direct protection, thus diluting early intervention and help."
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