This report outlines changes in children's social care activity (the work done by children's social care organisations) since 2013. It outlines explanations for changes in activity, highlights children's journeys in social care, and quantifies the association of social care activity with specific factors including family income and local authority of residence. This report finds that whilst there were increases in all forms of children's social care activity between 2013 and 2018 (except adoptions), they have all plateaued or decreased since 2018, except looked-after children and Section 17 children in need assessments. The rise in activity between 2013 and 2018 was greatest for investigations: Section 47 enquiries, initial child protection conferences and Section 17 assessments, and numbers of child protection plans. Rises in looked-after children rates and numbers since 2016 reflect a 12% fall in children leaving care, as numbers entering care have also fallen. This is driven by fewer children returning home to their families and fewer children leaving care before the age of 18. The increasing age of looked-after children appears to be caused by children being looked after for longer, rather than causing children to be looked after for longer. For children under the age of 13, domestic violence with a parent/carer subject is the most common factor identified at the end of assessment, with 45% of all assessments of children aged 1 citing this as a factor. For adolescents, children's mental health is the most common factor. After the age of 12 years old there is a sharp growth in the percentage of assessments which identify child alcohol and drug misuse, child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gangs, missing children, socially unacceptable behaviour and self harm. Children who are more likely to receive a social care intervention than other children, after controlling for other differences, have lower family income, live in more deprived areas, are older, and are of Mixed Black/White Caribbean or Black Other ethnicity. However, children of Asian ethnicity are less likely to receive an intervention.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report outlines changes in children's social care activity (the work done by children's social care organisations) since 2013. It outlines explanations for changes in activity, highlights children's journeys in social care, and quantifies the association of social care activity with specific factors including family income and local authority of residence. This report finds that whilst there were increases in all forms of children's social care activity between 2013 and 2018 (except adoptions), they have all plateaued or decreased since 2018, except looked-after children and Section 17 children in need assessments. The rise in activity between 2013 and 2018 was greatest for investigations: Section 47 enquiries, initial child protection conferences and Section 17 assessments, and numbers of child protection plans. Rises in looked-after children rates and numbers since 2016 reflect a 12% fall in children leaving care, as numbers entering care have also fallen. This is driven by fewer children returning home to their families and fewer children leaving care before the age of 18. The increasing age of looked-after children appears to be caused by children being looked after for longer, rather than causing children to be looked after for longer. For children under the age of 13, domestic violence with a parent/carer subject is the most common factor identified at the end of assessment, with 45% of all assessments of children aged 1 citing this as a factor. For adolescents, children's mental health is the most common factor. After the age of 12 years old there is a sharp growth in the percentage of assessments which identify child alcohol and drug misuse, child sexual exploitation, trafficking, gangs, missing children, socially unacceptable behaviour and self harm. Children who are more likely to receive a social care intervention than other children, after controlling for other differences, have lower family income, live in more deprived areas, are older, and are of Mixed Black/White Caribbean or Black Other ethnicity. However, children of Asian ethnicity are less likely to receive an intervention.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
childrens social care, looked after children, service uptake, domestic violence, mental health problems, child protection, child sexual exploitation, substance misuse, black and minority ethnic people;
NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN
Publisher:
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Publication year:
2014
Pagination:
72
Place of publication:
London
A review of the NSPCC ChildLine's activities in 2013/14. The report analyses key data from children and young people’s contacts with ChildLine, focusing on: reasons why children and young people seek help from ChildLine; who contacts the service; referrals; mental health conditions; eating disorders; online abuse and safety; and school and education problems. During 2013/14, ChildLine counselled 280,064 children and supported a further 10,915 who had serious concerns about another child. Four of the top ten issues relate to mental health, accounting for more than two thirds of total concerns. These are self-harm; suicide; low self-esteem and unhappiness; and (diagnosable) mental health conditions. The three main worries were family relationships, low self-esteem and unhappiness and self-harm. For the first time, school and education problems appeared in the top ten concerns with a 200 per cent increase in counselling about exam stress. Since 2012/13 there has been a 15 per cent increase in counselling about eating disorders and a 21 per cent increase for body image issues. Referrals on behalf of the most vulnerable and at risk children saw a 7 per cent increase, with Key Stats 65 per cent of total referrals about suicidal young people. There has been an increase of 168 per cent from 2012/13 in counselling about online sexual abuse while there has been an 18 per cent decrease in physical abuse counselling.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A review of the NSPCC ChildLine's activities in 2013/14. The report analyses key data from children and young people’s contacts with ChildLine, focusing on: reasons why children and young people seek help from ChildLine; who contacts the service; referrals; mental health conditions; eating disorders; online abuse and safety; and school and education problems. During 2013/14, ChildLine counselled 280,064 children and supported a further 10,915 who had serious concerns about another child. Four of the top ten issues relate to mental health, accounting for more than two thirds of total concerns. These are self-harm; suicide; low self-esteem and unhappiness; and (diagnosable) mental health conditions. The three main worries were family relationships, low self-esteem and unhappiness and self-harm. For the first time, school and education problems appeared in the top ten concerns with a 200 per cent increase in counselling about exam stress. Since 2012/13 there has been a 15 per cent increase in counselling about eating disorders and a 21 per cent increase for body image issues. Referrals on behalf of the most vulnerable and at risk children saw a 7 per cent increase, with Key Stats 65 per cent of total referrals about suicidal young people. There has been an increase of 168 per cent from 2012/13 in counselling about online sexual abuse while there has been an 18 per cent decrease in physical abuse counselling.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
advice services, child protection, helplines, mental health problems, child abuse, eating disorders, education, referral, social media, internet;
An annual report collating the social services statistical returns from local authorities in Wales. The report includes information on children, adults receiving services, people with physical, sensory of a learning disability, mental health services and staff directly employed by local authority social services departments.
(Edited publisher abstract)
An annual report collating the social services statistical returns from local authorities in Wales. The report includes information on children, adults receiving services, people with physical, sensory of a learning disability, mental health services and staff directly employed by local authority social services departments.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
looked after children, adoption, child protection, community care, learning disabilities, social services, social care staff, mental health problems, staff, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, care homes, residential care, foster carers, older people, social care professionals;
Pack containing eight floppy discs containing data on: demographic and social profiles; childrens services; adult services; services for older people; services for adults with disabilities or mental health problems; and unit costs. The content is laid out in four different graph types: ranked bar charts, line charts, scattergrams, and histograms. The pack includes a start up guide. Minimum systems requirements are: any IBM compatible machine with a 486 processor; 8MB of RAM; windows version 3.1 or later; and approximately 18MB of space.
Pack containing eight floppy discs containing data on: demographic and social profiles; childrens services; adult services; services for older people; services for adults with disabilities or mental health problems; and unit costs. The content is laid out in four different graph types: ranked bar charts, line charts, scattergrams, and histograms. The pack includes a start up guide. Minimum systems requirements are: any IBM compatible machine with a 486 processor; 8MB of RAM; windows version 3.1 or later; and approximately 18MB of space.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, local authorities, looked after children, mental health problems, needs, older people, physical disabilities, residential care, social welfare law, statistical methods, child protection, community care, children, costs, demographics, expenditure;
Includes sections on: demographic and social profiles; childrens services; adult services; services for older people; services for adults with disabilities or mental health problems; and unit costs.
Includes sections on: demographic and social profiles; childrens services; adult services; services for older people; services for adults with disabilities or mental health problems; and unit costs.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, local authorities, looked after children, mental health problems, needs, older people, physical disabilities, residential care, registers, statistical methods, adult social care, child protection, community care, childrens social care, costs, demographics, expenditure;