• March 29, 2024
 Cost of care up by 24% as review reveals need for reform

Cost of care up by 24% as review reveals need for reform

Heightened demand to protect vulnerable children at risk of harm has seen spending to provide support skyrocket over the past five years. This comes as the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, described as “once in a generation”, was published this week.

A report from the Local Government association revealed that councils in England spent over £10.5 billion on children’s social care in 2020/21 – nearly 25% higher than in 2016/17, where expenditure was almost £8.5 billion. The figures also showed:

  • More than two thirds of councils are now overspending their budgets to keep up with rising demand to support vulnerable children. Councils overspent by more than £800 million in the year 2020/21. This is despite councils increasing their budgets by £708 million that year and by £1.2 billion in the past two years.
  • In the past decade, the number of Section 47 enquiries, carried out when councils have reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering, or at risk of, significant harm has increased from 111,700 in 2011 to 198,790 in 2021 – a rise of 78%.
  • The number of children in care in England has increased from 65,510 in 2011 to 80,850 in 2021 – a 23% rise.

It was this week warned that tens of thousands more children could end up in care without drastic changes to child protection in England, with the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care calling for £2.6 billion in funding over five years to prevent the number of children in care exceeding 100,000. Other recommendations included:

  • New child-protection experts to ensure senior staff are directly involved in frontline decisions.
  • A recruitment drive to increase the number of foster parents who can care for children.
  • A new law protecting care leavers from discrimination.
  • Young offender institutions, described as “wholly unsuitable for children”, to be phased out.

Josh MacAlister, the review’s lead, told the BBC:

“I’ve walked away from this feeling a mixture of inspiration at times – seeing what families have been able to do and where children have been able to get despite the circumstances – but also rage.

Some of the things going on in the system are outrageous and are not acceptable.

Carry on as we are and we’ll have nearly 100,000 children in care by this time next decade, and the costs per year will be £15bn [up from £10bn]… and it won’t be achieving better outcomes for anybody.

What we found is that this is a system – the children social care system – that needs a radical reset, because at the moment it is in a cycle where problems escalate, costs rise, outcomes continue to be too poor, and that’s getting worse and worse over time.”

Responding to the review, the government said vulnerable children and families in England will be better supported by a “fundamental shift” in how children’s social care services are delivered.

As part of this, the Government has revealed plans to set up a new National Implementation Board of sector experts and people with experience of leading transformational change and the care system. It will also boost efforts to recruit more foster carers, increase support for social workers including on leadership, recruitment and retention, improve data sharing, and implement a new evidence-based framework for all the professionals working in children’s social care.

Seven areas of England will also receive funding to set up family hubs which offer early help and intervention, in recognition of the importance of strong, joined up local services as a foundation for an improved social care system.

Local authorities will also receive funding for schemes that support vulnerable children to remain engaged in their education and strengthen links between social care and education. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said:

“This is the start of a journey to change the culture and dramatically reform the children’s social care system.

Everything we do to raise the outcomes for children and families must be backed by evidence. This report will be central in taking forward our ambition to ensure every child has a loving and stable home and we will continue working with experts and people who have experienced care to deliver change on the ground.”

Read more on the government’s response here.

Jamie Lennox, Editor, Today's Family Lawyer

Editor of Today's Conveyancer, Today's Wills and Probate, and Today's Family Lawyer

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