Intrafamilial Abuse: Policy context

The latest Department for Education characteristics of children in need 2015/16 data shows 50.6 per cent of children referred to social services had a primary need of abuse and neglect, while 17.4 per cent were classed as living in "family dysfunction" and 8.7 per cent a "family in acute stress". Upon completion of a child in need assessment, the five main safeguarding factors identified were: domestic violence (49.6 per cent of cases), mental health (36.6 per cent), drug misuse (19.3 per cent), emotional abuse (19.3 per cent) and alcohol abuse (18.4 per cent).

A study of councils' safeguarding activity by the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) supports the DfE research findings. The Safeguarding Pressures 5 report, published in December 2016, shows the proportion of referrals to children's services for abuse and neglect have risen from 29 per cent in 2007/08 to 53.5 per cent in 2015/16. The ADCS data also shows domestic violence and parental mental health as the two main factors identified. In addition, the two main reasons for issuing child protection plans are neglect (45 per cent) and emotional abuse (35 per cent).