CYP Now - Care referrals reach all-time high

Care applications have hit a record high, with more then 900 cases dealt with by the Child and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) in January this year alone.

There were 903 local authority care applications last month, the highest figure recorded since Cafcass began collecting comparable data in 2001.

This is the first time the number of care applications has topped the 900 mark in one month.

The average number of monthly care applications for this financial year now stands at 840, up from an average of 747 per month in 2010/11, and 723 in 2009/10. In 2008, the average number of monthly care applications stood at 508.

Overall this year, care applications are 12 per cent higher than last year’s figures.

Anthony Douglas, chief executive of Cafcass, said agencies "are showing a lower tolerance for poor parenting" and are working more quickly to make sure that children are removed from deeply damaging households.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included