Meanwhile, funding is failing to keep pace with the growing numbers of children coming into the children's social care system, increasing pressure on councils to find efficiencies.
Statistics published by the Department for Education last year show that the number of children in care is rising at its fastest rate in five years, with 72,670 looked-after children in the 12 months to the end of March 2017, compared with 70,440 the year before.
Rising demand can be seen in most parts of the children's social care system, but it is the rise in looked-after children that poses the most significant challenge for councils. Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies published in June shows that nearly half the £8.6bn annual children's services budget is spent on children in care. This is putting pressure on other parts of children's services, with early help provision being hardest hit.
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