A record number of child abuse inquiries has prompted councils to call for emergency funding in the forthcoming Budget. The Labour-led Local Government Association (LGA) raised concerns about the increasing costs endangering support for young people at risk. The LGA urged the Chancellor to intervene after costs surged by 11% in the last year alone.
According to figures from the Department for Education, there were 225,400 “Section 47” investigations in 2023, equivalent to 618 cases daily. The inquiries focused on 192 children per 10,000 of the under-18 population, marking a 77% increase since 2013. Councils are now handling 66 more cases daily compared to 2019.
The rise in investigations has been attributed to various factors, including schools making more referrals to children’s social services and increased challenges in children’s social care due to mental health issues and domestic abuse among parents or carers. The LGA highlighted the financial strain on councils, projecting a £6.2 billion shortfall across two years.
Arooj Shah, chairwoman of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, emphasised the importance of collective action to protect vulnerable children. She called for urgent government intervention to address the funding gap in children’s social care and uphold crucial support services. The number of children with protection plans in 2023 stood at 50,780, indicating the severity and scale of child welfare concerns.
Abigail Gill, from the NSPCC, stressed the necessity to increase spending on children’s services, particularly on early intervention and family support. She urged not only additional investment but also systemic reforms to improve child protection measures effectively. The Department for Education affirmed its commitment to supporting local authorities and enhancing child protection initiatives.
Meanwhile, the NSPCC highlighted the need for increased spending on early intervention and family support in children services. This call for help was echoed by the Department for Education, which has committed funding towards new multi-agency child protection teams to ensure prompt interventions for children in need.
The focus on child protection and support for vulnerable children remains a pressing issue, with the alarming number of abuse inquiries underscoring the urgency for sustained intervention and financial backing to safeguard children’s welfare.