Domestic violence and substance abuse are fuelling surge in children needing social services’ protection, council chiefs warn

Eighty-eight children a day are now placed under child services’ protection

Many councils are finding it harder to give children the support they deserve, the LGA said. (Cultura/Getty Creative)

An increase in domestic violence, substance abuse and poverty are fuelling a surge in the number of children being taken into care, council chiefs have warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said 88 children a day are now placed under child services’ protection - a total that has risen by more than 50 per cent in the last decade.

Nearly two thirds of children’s services lead councils polled by the LGA said the number and complexity of youngsters receiving child protection support had increased “to a great extent” since 2015/16.

This rising demand, coupled with “funding pressures” imposed by central government, means many councils are finding it harder to give children the support they deserve, the LGA said.

More than 80 per cent of those polled said increases in domestic abuse, substance misuse and offending are major factors in the increased demand.

A rise in poverty, poor housing and debt levels were also blamed for the influx of children requiring help, 70 per cent of respondents said.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced councils’ spending power would increase by £2.9bn in 2012/21, earlier this week. It described the plans as the “biggest year-on-year real terms increase in funding for almost a decade”.

But public services have been ravaged by a decade of austerity and funding for children’s services slashed by a third since 2010. Furthermore, council spending has fallen by 21 per cent since 2010, according to a May report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Judith Blake, Judith Blake, chairwoman of the LGA’s children and young people board, welcomed the proposed funding boost – which includes an extra £1.5bn for children’s services – but warned it only accounted for one year.

“Councils need long-term, sufficient and sustainable funding so they can deliver the best for our children and families,” Ms Blake said. “Funding pressures are coinciding with huge increases in demand for support because of problems like hardship and family conflict, which is making it increasingly difficult for them to do that.

“No family is immune to life’s challenges, and every family should feel safe in the knowledge that if they need it, help is there to get things back on track. If councils are to give children and families the help they need and deserve, it is vital they are fully funded.”

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: “We want every single child to have the best start in life, with the opportunities and the stability to fulfil their potential.”

In addition to a £1bn grant for social care included in the recently announced spending boost, the DfE said a further £84 million is being invested in “evidence-based interventions” to improve the support provided to vulnerable children and their families.

Additional reporting by PA