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| NI child care applications double | NI child care applications double |
| (4 days later) | |
| The number of applications made to take vulnerable children in NI into care have almost doubled in the past year, according to a government agency. | The number of applications made to take vulnerable children in NI into care have almost doubled in the past year, according to a government agency. |
| NI's five health and social care trusts made 160 applications for care orders involving 309 children between January and August this year. | NI's five health and social care trusts made 160 applications for care orders involving 309 children between January and August this year. |
| These figures are in comparison to the 87 requests made involving 171 children during the same period last year. | These figures are in comparison to the 87 requests made involving 171 children during the same period last year. |
| They were revealed by the NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA). | They were revealed by the NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA). |
| NIGALA is a government agency which represents the interests of vulnerable children in court in both adoption and public law proceedings. | NIGALA is a government agency which represents the interests of vulnerable children in court in both adoption and public law proceedings. |
| Agency director Ronnie Williamson said that the increase in the number of applications for care orders was "significant" and had increased the workload on the agency's 39 children's guardians. | Agency director Ronnie Williamson said that the increase in the number of applications for care orders was "significant" and had increased the workload on the agency's 39 children's guardians. |
| "When a trust considers that children are at risk of significant harm they may choose to make an application for a care order to the court, as soon as this is made a guardian is appointed," he said. | "When a trust considers that children are at risk of significant harm they may choose to make an application for a care order to the court, as soon as this is made a guardian is appointed," he said. |
| "We have had to work extremely hard to cover the increase, we didn't have additional resources, but we have still managed to maintain a quality service for children and the courts." | "We have had to work extremely hard to cover the increase, we didn't have additional resources, but we have still managed to maintain a quality service for children and the courts." |
| Sean Holland, Acting Chief Officer for Social Services in Northern Ireland said while the Baby Peter case has had an impact on cases being reported to social services, other factors had contributed to the increase in applications. | Sean Holland, Acting Chief Officer for Social Services in Northern Ireland said while the Baby Peter case has had an impact on cases being reported to social services, other factors had contributed to the increase in applications. |
| "In Northern Ireland there have been a number of initiatives aimed at improving our child protection services that are resulting in Trusts being able to more effectively identify children who are in need of protection," he said. | "In Northern Ireland there have been a number of initiatives aimed at improving our child protection services that are resulting in Trusts being able to more effectively identify children who are in need of protection," he said. |
| "This in turn will inevitably have an impact on the number of care orders being applied for." | "This in turn will inevitably have an impact on the number of care orders being applied for." |
| Baby Peter was found dead at a flat in Haringey, north London, in August 2007. | Baby Peter was found dead at a flat in Haringey, north London, in August 2007. |
| His mother Tracy Connelly, her boyfriend Steven Barker and their lodger Jason Owen were later found guilty of causing his death. | His mother Tracy Connelly, her boyfriend Steven Barker and their lodger Jason Owen were later found guilty of causing his death. |
| Haringey Council was severely criticised following Baby P's death because he was already on their at-risk register. | Haringey Council was severely criticised following Baby P's death because he was already on their at-risk register. |
| NSPCC policy manager Colin Reid said such a rise in court applications was not surprising following such high profile cases of child abuse. | |
| Tracy Connelly and Stephen Barker were convicted over Baby Peter's death | Tracy Connelly and Stephen Barker were convicted over Baby Peter's death |
| "It is important that we get this into a context," Mr Reid said. | "It is important that we get this into a context," Mr Reid said. |
| "It is not unsurprising given what has happened in England, with baby Peter and all the very high profile stuff about his tragic death, that we may see those increase in figures, but there is much more complex things going on here. | "It is not unsurprising given what has happened in England, with baby Peter and all the very high profile stuff about his tragic death, that we may see those increase in figures, but there is much more complex things going on here. |
| "In Northern Ireland, at the moment, we have about 2,500 children in care, we have seen a slow increase over the years, both in terms of children being looked after and children on the child protection register. | "In Northern Ireland, at the moment, we have about 2,500 children in care, we have seen a slow increase over the years, both in terms of children being looked after and children on the child protection register. |
| "But, I think that there are many factors here that might underscore that." | "But, I think that there are many factors here that might underscore that." |
| The Children and Family Court Advisory Service (Cafcas), which is the equivalent of NIGALA in England, has also revealed it has experienced record levels of applications for care orders. | The Children and Family Court Advisory Service (Cafcas), which is the equivalent of NIGALA in England, has also revealed it has experienced record levels of applications for care orders. |
| It has also attributing the rise, in part, to the Baby P case. | It has also attributing the rise, in part, to the Baby P case. |
| Anthony Douglas chief executive of Cafcas said: "This has been partly caused by some agencies referring lower level concerns in case they make a mistake by under-reacting. Agencies must regain confidence in their own professional judgments and assessments." | Anthony Douglas chief executive of Cafcas said: "This has been partly caused by some agencies referring lower level concerns in case they make a mistake by under-reacting. Agencies must regain confidence in their own professional judgments and assessments." |