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| Ninety children taken into care each day, figures show | Ninety children taken into care each day, figures show |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ninety children are being taken into care every day in England and Wales and it's claimed social workers are "firefighting" the most serious cases late into the night. | Ninety children are being taken into care every day in England and Wales and it's claimed social workers are "firefighting" the most serious cases late into the night. |
| Prof Ray Jones, who works in social services improvement, says staff fear children slip through the net as they try to keep up with rising pressures. | Prof Ray Jones, who works in social services improvement, says staff fear children slip through the net as they try to keep up with rising pressures. |
| Latest government figures show 32,810 children were taken into care in 2017. | Latest government figures show 32,810 children were taken into care in 2017. |
| Ministers said extra money was being targeted towards improving services. | Ministers said extra money was being targeted towards improving services. |
| The total number of children in care is a record 72,670 - up 3% on 2016. | The total number of children in care is a record 72,670 - up 3% on 2016. |
| Council bosses, who are responsible for child protection services, say it's the biggest rise in seven years. | Council bosses, who are responsible for child protection services, say it's the biggest rise in seven years. |
| The Local Government Association, which is taking part in a conference on care services in Bournemouth, says it comes as children's services face a £2bn a year funding gap by 2020. | The Local Government Association, which is taking part in a conference on care services in Bournemouth, says it comes as children's services face a £2bn a year funding gap by 2020. |
| 'Immediate danger' | 'Immediate danger' |
| Prof Jones said: "What I am hearing from social workers is that they are having to spend most of the time 'firefighting' with the most serious concerns that get presented to them. | Prof Jones said: "What I am hearing from social workers is that they are having to spend most of the time 'firefighting' with the most serious concerns that get presented to them. |
| "They are spending a lot of time, including late into the night and at weekends, preparing for court proceedings. | "They are spending a lot of time, including late into the night and at weekends, preparing for court proceedings. |
| "They are also having to close down work very quickly where the child is not an immediate concern. | "They are also having to close down work very quickly where the child is not an immediate concern. |
| "The consequence of that is the considerable stress they feel over concerns that they may be missing something." | "The consequence of that is the considerable stress they feel over concerns that they may be missing something." |
| He added: "Secondly, something that social workers are telling me is that they are closing down cases very quickly or even turning them away. | He added: "Secondly, something that social workers are telling me is that they are closing down cases very quickly or even turning them away. |
| "And they are not able to work through potential cases where children are unhappy and distressed, because they are having to concentrate on cases where there is an immediate danger." | "And they are not able to work through potential cases where children are unhappy and distressed, because they are having to concentrate on cases where there is an immediate danger." |
| But the figures continue a longer trend of rising numbers of children facing severe need in terms of child protection. | But the figures continue a longer trend of rising numbers of children facing severe need in terms of child protection. |
| Richard Watts, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: "Children's services are at a tipping point with growing demand for support combining with ongoing council funding pressures to become unsustainable. | Richard Watts, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: "Children's services are at a tipping point with growing demand for support combining with ongoing council funding pressures to become unsustainable. |
| "Last year saw the biggest rise in the number of children in care for seven years. | "Last year saw the biggest rise in the number of children in care for seven years. |
| "With 90 children coming into care every day, our calls for urgent funding to support these children and invest in children and their families are becoming increasingly urgent." | "With 90 children coming into care every day, our calls for urgent funding to support these children and invest in children and their families are becoming increasingly urgent." |
| Robert Goodwill, Minister for Children and Families, said councils would receive more than £200bn for local services, including children's social care, up to 2020. | |
| "This is part of a historic four-year settlement, which means councils can plan ahead with certainty. | |
| "All children deserve the best possible support. And while some councils are doing excellent work, we want to help ensure more local authorities provide good and outstanding services." |