Services to protect vulnerable children in large parts of the country are seeing a dramatic ‘unfunded’ spike in demand, new analysis shows.
The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents every county council in England and 10 county unitary authorities, argues that pressure on children’s service has risen most dramatically in rural councils, warning that they receive half the money urban councils get to deliver these services.
[…] county authorities already receive £292 less per head than the average council in London, with services to protect vulnerable children in large parts of the country therefore seeing a dramatic “unfunded” spike in demand.
It states that current growing pressures are not recognised in existing funding formula, meaning funding is failing to keep pace with the spike in demand.
[…] pressures have resulted in a number of counties being left with little choice but to divert funding towards crisis intervention activities, rather than preventative services such as children’s mental health.
CCN is calling for fully-funded and prevention focused services to provide every child with the best start in life.
Read full piece at source: New analysis shows spike in demand for rural children’s social services and page 34 ‘Preventative Children’s Services’ in A New Deal for Counties Our Plan for Government
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