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| Labour blames cuts as number of children in care rises again | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The number of children in care after being removed from their parents because they were at risk of abuse or neglect rose again last year, amid concerns over the impact of austerity cuts and poverty on vulnerable families. | The number of children in care after being removed from their parents because they were at risk of abuse or neglect rose again last year, amid concerns over the impact of austerity cuts and poverty on vulnerable families. |
| The latest official figures reveal there were 75,420 looked-after children in England at the end of March, up 4% on the previous year. The number has increased steadily every year since 2008, when the total was about 60,000. | The latest official figures reveal there were 75,420 looked-after children in England at the end of March, up 4% on the previous year. The number has increased steadily every year since 2008, when the total was about 60,000. |
| They also reveal another fall in children being adopted, suggesting the major adoption push by the former prime minister David Cameron under the coalition government has fizzled out. Adoption numbers fell 13% year on year to 3,820, well down from the 2015 peak of 5,360. | They also reveal another fall in children being adopted, suggesting the major adoption push by the former prime minister David Cameron under the coalition government has fizzled out. Adoption numbers fell 13% year on year to 3,820, well down from the 2015 peak of 5,360. |
| Emma Lewell-Buck, the shadow minister for children and families, said the rises reflected savage government cuts to early help and support services such as Sure Start, which could help keep children with their families, avoiding the need for care. | Emma Lewell-Buck, the shadow minister for children and families, said the rises reflected savage government cuts to early help and support services such as Sure Start, which could help keep children with their families, avoiding the need for care. |
| She said: “The government is missing valuable opportunities to keep children in the care of their families. Not only does that add pressure to budgets already decimated by austerity, it also leaves children and their families with deep and enduring emotional scars.” | She said: “The government is missing valuable opportunities to keep children in the care of their families. Not only does that add pressure to budgets already decimated by austerity, it also leaves children and their families with deep and enduring emotional scars.” |
| Local authorities are increasingly worried that the escalating costs of looking after children at risk, as council budgets are rapidly shrinking, are tipping some councils towards insolvency. Councils spend more than half of their children’s services budgets on children in the care system. | Local authorities are increasingly worried that the escalating costs of looking after children at risk, as council budgets are rapidly shrinking, are tipping some councils towards insolvency. Councils spend more than half of their children’s services budgets on children in the care system. |
| Senior family court judges warned in June that the family justice system was in crisis as a result of “untenable” increases in the number of applications from councils to take children into care. | Senior family court judges warned in June that the family justice system was in crisis as a result of “untenable” increases in the number of applications from councils to take children into care. |
| Earlier this week the Guardian revealed a crisis in the children’s residential care sector, which looks after about one in 10 of children in care. An investigation found vulnerable children were being “treated like cattle” and moved around care homes across England and Wales. | Earlier this week the Guardian revealed a crisis in the children’s residential care sector, which looks after about one in 10 of children in care. An investigation found vulnerable children were being “treated like cattle” and moved around care homes across England and Wales. |
| The most common reason for children being taken into care was abuse or neglect, accounting for 63% of the total, the latest statistics show. Other categories were family dysfunction (15%), families in acute stress (8%), absent parenting (6%) and other reasons (8%). | The most common reason for children being taken into care was abuse or neglect, accounting for 63% of the total, the latest statistics show. Other categories were family dysfunction (15%), families in acute stress (8%), absent parenting (6%) and other reasons (8%). |
| Most looked-after children – 73% – were fostered, with an increasing number placed with relatives or friends under guardianship arrangements. About 11% were placed in secure units and children’s homes. Four out of 10 children were placed outside their local authority, with one in five moving more than 20 miles away. | Most looked-after children – 73% – were fostered, with an increasing number placed with relatives or friends under guardianship arrangements. About 11% were placed in secure units and children’s homes. Four out of 10 children were placed outside their local authority, with one in five moving more than 20 miles away. |
| The minister for children and families, Nadhim Zahawi, said the government was working hard to improve social care support for children who through no fault of their own had been dealt a difficult hand in life. | The minister for children and families, Nadhim Zahawi, said the government was working hard to improve social care support for children who through no fault of their own had been dealt a difficult hand in life. |
| He said: “We recently announced an additional £410m for adult and children’s social care in 2019-20 and we are also investing £84m over the next five years to build on our existing programmes which are developing innovative approaches to help children stay in a stable family home where it is best for them.” | He said: “We recently announced an additional £410m for adult and children’s social care in 2019-20 and we are also investing £84m over the next five years to build on our existing programmes which are developing innovative approaches to help children stay in a stable family home where it is best for them.” |
| However, children’s services leaders warned this week that the government’s “piecemeal approach” was not good enough and fell woefully short of the sustainable funding needed for children’s services, which face an estimated £840m annual budget shortfall. | However, children’s services leaders warned this week that the government’s “piecemeal approach” was not good enough and fell woefully short of the sustainable funding needed for children’s services, which face an estimated £840m annual budget shortfall. |
| Stuart Gallimore, the president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said in a speech on Wednesday that poverty was behind rising care numbers. “What our research has found quite clearly is that poverty as a result of the cumulative impacts of 10 years of austerity and welfare reform is a primary cause of increased demand for early help and children’s social care.” | Stuart Gallimore, the president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said in a speech on Wednesday that poverty was behind rising care numbers. “What our research has found quite clearly is that poverty as a result of the cumulative impacts of 10 years of austerity and welfare reform is a primary cause of increased demand for early help and children’s social care.” |
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