Early prevention hit as funding is diverted for immediate risk

The Local Government Association (LGA) is warning that local councils are diverting limited funding away from early help and prevention services in a bid to protect those immediately at risk.

It is calling upon the government's review of the children's social care system—which was promised in the Conservative general election manifesto—to look at investing in early help and prevention services.

There are now more than 52 000 children subject to a child protection plan to keep them safe from harm—an increase of 53 % since 2009. This equates to an additional 18 160 children.

The number of children in care—78 150—has increased by 28 % in the past decade as well and is up from 75 370 in 2018.

Statistics published in October (DfE, 2019) show how the number of referrals to social services has risen from 593 500 in 2012/13 to 650 900 in 2018/19.

These referrals came mainly from the police (29 %), schools (18 %) and health services (15 %).