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Care case numbers will reveal postcode lottery

1 min read Social Care
The Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass) is poised to release figures revealing a postcode lottery in the number of applications for care proceedings made by councils.

National figures released by Cafcass earlier this year showed 739 applications in March 2009 - a rise of 37.9 per cent on March 2008's figure.

Cafcass is now in talks with local government organisations about releasing a localised breakdown of the figures. A spokesman said: "This information will show a postcode lottery regarding applications and will certainly provoke more debate."

Figures uncovered by CYP Now show Haringey Council made 47 applications for care proceedings between Nov-ember 2008 and May 2009, compared with 31 between May and October 2008.

Surrey made 155 applications between January and December 2007, and 94 between October 2008 and March 2009. Milton Keynes made 33 in 2007/08 and 49 in 2008/09 - a rise of 48 per cent. All three councils' children's services were judged as inadequate by Ofsted last year.

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