ADCS releases Safeguarding Pressures Report – Phase 9

Published January 15th, 2025. Source: ADCS

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has published its latest Safeguarding Pressures report, which draws on data returns, surveys with local authorities across England plus interviews with leaders of children’s services.

This is the ninth iteration of the Safeguarding Pressures research, which brings the evidence base up to date from April 2007 – the end of March 2024.

This latest report draws on quantitative data from over 124 local authorities and qualitative survey returns from 86 local authorities plus interviews with 34 senior leaders of children’s services.

Additionally, the research tracks the key domains of safeguarding and child protection activity. As of 31^st March 2024:

• Initial contacts stood at just over 3 million, up 8% since Safeguarding Pressures Phase 8 (2021/22) and 122% since Phase 1 of this research (2007/8).
• Early help assessments increased 8% on Phase 8 of this research and are up 124% since Phase 4 (2013/14) when this data began being collected.
• Referrals were up 1% on Phase 8 of this research, and have risen 20% since 2007/8
• The numbers of Children in Need are down 6% since 2021/22 and down 27% since 2007/8.
• Child protection plans were down 3% on 2021/22 but up 83% since 2007/8.
• The number of children in care was up 2%on 2021/22 and up 28% since 2007/8 when this research began.

Andy Smith, ADCS President, said: “The latest phase of our research makes it clear that the stripping back of our public services has led to, and continues to result in, poor outcomes for children. In order to improve children’s lives, we need to improve public services as a whole and ensure that parents and carers have the access to the support they need and families are able to be housed in safe, decent homes in the communities they have connections in.  Children, young people, and families do not live their lives according to service structures or departmental remits, we are dealing with multifaceted needs which require joined up, multi-agency responses. 

“It is encouraging to see that the government has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping children safe and helping families to thrive and backed this up with new investment, however, evidence presented here shows the stark impact of poverty, the housing crisis and failing health services on children’s lives and on their childhoods is undeniable. It is clear that the government needs to take bolder, swifter action to truly improve children’s life chances now and in the future. The research also demonstrates the value and impact of early help and family support in terms of preventing future misery and harm as well as future spend, so sustainable, equitable investment here should be part of any long term plans.

Andy Smith concluded: “The essential foundations that children need to thrive are now absent for a large proportion of children, which results in them arriving at our door in need of help and protection.  This isn’t good for children, families or for communities.  It’s time to think and work differently.  We need to work more collaboratively, with children and families in the round, if we are ever going to achieve our ambitions for children to thrive. And we need joined up government to tackle these core challenges of family life because childhood matters.”

Read at source:

• ADCS Safeguarding Pressures Phase 9 – final report (pdf)
• Headlines summary (pdf)