Analysis of government statistics by the Local Government Association (LGA) shows increasing demand for support from children’s services.
The figures show that there were 646,120 referrals to children’s services during 2016/17 – which equates to 1,770-a-day or one every 49 seconds.
More than 500 child protection investigations were started on average each day in 2016/17. This compares to 200-a-day in 2006/07.
The LGA is warning that children’s services are struggling to cope with the rising demand for support because of funding pressures.
It says that children’s services are facing a £2 billion funding shortfall by 2020.
The LGA wants the government to use the upcoming final Local Government Finance Settlement to address the £2 billion funding gap.
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