Care applications continue to soar
Neil Puffett
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Numbers of court applications being made for children to be taken into care are continuing to soar, with latest figures showing a 14 per cent increase compared with last year.
Statistics published by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) today show that a record 1,111 care applications were made last month (July).
That brings the total number of care applications for the current financial year (April to July) to 4,092, a 14 per cent increase on the 3,580 recorded in the same period last year.
Alison O’Sullivan, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), said local authorities are finding it difficult to keep growing numbers of children safe in light of “continuous reductions to local government funding”.
“This is having a clear impact on vital non-statutory services – reducing capacity in the system for early intervention,” she said.
“Our members continue to work hard to get the best from the limited funds available but whilst resources are diminishing the government must recognise that need is not.”
Harvey Gallagher, chief executive of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers, said he is also concerned that, at a time when local authority budgets are under pressure, demand for services is increasing.
"This can make it very difficult for local authorities to maintain their focus on the needs of children over the longer term,” he said.
"Too many other factors, not directly about the needs of children, get in the way.”
Andy Elvin, chief executive of fostering and adoption charity The Adolescent and Children’s Trust (Tact), said ongoing rises in care applications now represent a sustained trend.
But he said it will not automatically follow that there will be more children in the care system.
“More children are now remaining with birth parents or being placed with extended family members under special guardianship orders (SGOs),” he said.
“The vital issue is that the care proceedings is only the start of the work to transform outcomes for vulnerable children.
“It is important that all children subject to care proceedings are found a permanent placement as soon as possible and that this permanent placement is fully supported to ensure they achieve their potential.”