The information requested is not collected centrally.
The number of children who were the subject of a child protection plan at 31 March and who were also looked after on that date is shown in the following table.
Numbers Percentage of total who were the subject of a plan2 1997 7,900 24 1998 7,800 25 1999 7,900 25 2000 7,100 23 2001 5,400 20 2002 4,600 18 2003 4,200 16 2004 3,400 13 2005 3,000 12 2006 2,600 10 2007 2,400 9 2008 2,200 8 1Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2The number of looked after children who were the subject of a CPP at 31 March, expressed as a percentage of all children who were the subject of a CPP at that date.
The latest figures on the numbers and percentage of children subject to child protection plans or placed on the Child Protection Register were published in a Statistical First Release (SFR) 24/2008 ‘Referrals, Assessments and Children and
Young People who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan, England—Year ending 31 March 2008’ on 16 September 2008. A copy of this release is available on my Department's website:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway
(2) what percentage of children referred to children’s social care received an initial assessment within seven working days in 2007;
(3) what percentage of child protection plans last for two or more years;
(4) what percentage of children became the subject of a child protection plan for a second or subsequent time in 2007;
(5) what percentage of core assessments for children’s social care were carried out within 35 working days of their commencement in the last three years.
29,200 children were the subject of a child protection plan at 31 March 2008. In the year ending 31 March 2008:
71 per cent. of children referred to children’s social care received an initial assessment within seven working days.
5 per cent. of children whose child protection plan was discontinued were a subject of a plan for two or more years.
14 per cent. of children became the subject of a child protection plan for a second or subsequent time.
80 per cent. of core assessments for children’s social care were carried out within 35 working days of initial assessments in the year ending 31 March 2008, 78 per cent. in the year ending 31 March 2007 and 74 per cent. in the year ending 31 March 2006.
These figures have been taken from the statistical first release “Referrals, Assessments and Children and Young People who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan, England—year ending 31 March 2008”, which can be found at the following link:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000811/index.shtml.
Figures are for England only.
It is not possible to quantify the number of cases referred to inspectorates by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Department receives representations across a wide range of issues including on child protection, mostly in the form of correspondence. Some of these are shared with inspectorates for information whilst other matters may be passed to them on a more formal basis where specific action may be appropriate. In addition, local authorities are required in particular circumstances to notify Ofsted of the details of particular events, including those relating to serious incidents involving children or with respect to incidents occurring in settings for which Ofsted has regulatory functions. Other issues raised by correspondents with the Department may be pursued directly with local authorities or other agencies through the Department's regional Government office network.
In April 2008, we announced a £73 million package of support for social workers who work with children and families. This package includes the Newly Qualified Social Worker pilot programme which will support social workers in their first year of practice including through improved supervision by their managers. Other pilot projects will seek to address the development needs of those in the second and third years of practice; to recognise and encourage more experienced and skilled social workers to stay in frontline posts; and to develop management and leadership skills. More information on this package of work which is being delivered by the Children’s Workforce Development Council can be found here:
http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/social-work
In December 2008 we announced a Social Work Taskforce which will consider what makes a difference to outcomes for children in terms of social work practice. The taskforce will make recommendations to Government later this year.
Under the Safeguarding Children Research Initiative DCSF, in partnership with the Department of Health, have commissioned a suite of studies to support the Government's programme of reform to improve early recognition and cost-effective interventions to protect children. The Safeguarding Children Research Initiative runs until 2010 and includes 11 studies covering three themes: recognition of neglect and emotional abuse; impact of interventions; and inter-agency working. In addition, the Department has commissioned various other projects to inform effective practice in safeguarding children.
The following table gives a full list of studies.
Safeguarding Research Initiative Report title Contractors Theme—Recognition of neglect and emotional abuse 1. Neglected adolescents: a review of the literature and the preparation of guides for multi-disciplinary teams and young people M. Stein (University of York) 2. Noticing and helping the neglected child: a review of the literature B. Daniel, J. Taylor, J. Scott and M. Barbour, (University of Dundee) 3. Does training in a systematic approach to emotional abuse improve the quality of children's services? D. Glaser and V. Prior (Institute of Child Health) Theme—Impact of interventions 4. A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions in reducing emotional abuse J. Barlow and A. Schrader McMillan (University of Warwick) 5. Case management and outcomes for neglected children: a six year follow-up study of neglected children who have been looked after and reunified E. Farmer and E. Lutman, (University of Bristol 6. Systematic reviews of interventions following physical abuse: helping practitioners and expert witnesses improve the outcomes of child abuse P. Montgomery, P. Ramchandani, F. Gardner and G. Bjomstad, (University of Oxford) 7. Outcomes for looked after children placed for reasons of abuse or neglect: the consequences of staying in care or returning home. J. Wade, N. Biehal and I. Sinclair (University of York) Theme—Interagency Working 8. The outcomes of interprofessional training to safeguard children J. Carpenter and E. Szilassy (University of Bristol), and S. Hackett (University of Durham) 9. Understanding parents' information needs and experiences when professional concerns of non-accidental injury were not substantiated L. Haines and S. Komulainen (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health) 10. Inter-agency working Conflicts of interest for GPs in safeguarding children H. Tompsett (Kingston University) 11. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the new Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs), A. France and E. Munro (CRSP, University of Loughborough) Overview 12. Overview Report of the Safeguarding Research Initiative H. Ward (CCfR, University of Loughborough)
Quality Matters Research Initiative—selected studies
Some studies included in the Quality Matters Research Initiative, which ran alongside and informed the Quality Protects programme, continue to inform the Safeguarding of children agenda.
Report title Contractors The response of child protection practices and procedures to children exposed to domestic violence or drug or alcohol abuse within their families H. Cleaver et al (University of London) The reunification of looked after children with their parents: patterns, interventions and outcomes E. Farmer and T. O'Neill (University of Bristol) Outcomes for children placed with family and friends as a results of care proceedings J. Hunt and S. Waterhouse (University of Oxford)
Other current safeguarding research:
Report title Contractors Safeguarding and promoting child welfare—how have public organisations responded to Section 11 of the Children's Act? (‘Section 11 Audit’) Ipsos MORI Preventing Childhood Deaths: a Study of ‘Early Starter’ Child Death Overview Panels in England P. Sidebotham, J. Fox, J. Horwath, C. Powell and S. Perwez (Universities of Warwick, Sheffield and Southampton) Preventing Future Child Deaths—Supplementary Survey 2008 P Sidebotham (University of Warwick) Analysis of Serious Case Reviews (2005-2007) M. Brandon, (University of East Anglia) Protecting and Promoting the well-being of very young children: a prospective study of babies in need or at risk of significant harm. H. Ward (CCfR, University of Loughborough) Costs and Consequences of Child Welfare Interventions (the Cost Calculator) H. Ward (CCfR, University of Loughborough) Forced Marriage: towards understanding the scale of the problem and the way in which services respond to cases involving children and young people National Centre for Social Research and Dr. Nazia Khanum
In response to Ofsted's judgment of 'inadequate' for 'Staying Safe' in Birmingham city council's 2008 Annual Performance Assessment (APA), officials from DCSF met with the Council on 17 December to identify what action is being taken to tackle the underlying causes of inadequate performance. Ministers will decide shortly the form of any intervention that may be necessary to bring about swiftly the required improvements to the service and improve outcomes for children and young people.