At-risk child numbers rise in wake of Baby P tragedy
Report before district council tonight (Thursday) highlights significant increase in children identified as at-risk
THE number of children identified as at risk of harm in West Berkshire more than trebled following the death of Baby P Peter Connelly, according to a report due before the district council tonight (Thursday).
In October 114 children and young people in the district became subject to a child protection plan, which can be drawn up for reasons ranging from neglect or emotional abuse to sexual and physical abuse, up from 32 in October 2007.
The report states that the high-profile child abuse case which shocked the nation when it became known that Baby Peter had been subject to brutal abuse and was eventually killed despite being on north London's Haringey Council child at risk register “undoubtedly had an impact” on the rise in West Berkshire.
The increasing numbers have put strain on the council's social work teams and have seen costs soar as care proceedings and workloads increase, leading to a predicted overspend of £390,000 for children's services, a huge chunk of the £427,000 first quarter total overspend the council will announce at the same meeting.
One outcome of a child protection plan is that the at-risk youngster can be taken into care by West Berkshire Council.
Figures showing those instances have remained high since 2007, with 14 families currently in court proceedings, due to increase by nine more in the coming months.
The report states: “Over the past two years, executive members received reports that highlighted the increase in numbers of children being made subject to a child protection plan.
“It was noted that this seemed to be linked to a number of factors but the news of the Haringey case of Baby P had undoubtedly had an impact.”
Ofsted has carried out several unannounced inspections of the West Berkshire Council child protection services and has confirmed that the thresholds for intervention were appropriate.
Since its peak numbers of children on child protection plans has slowly reduced and settled between the 80 and 90 mark, but the continuing high level of court activity means that work for staff remains high.
No change to policy is expected as a result of the findings, however the council said the numbers of children subject to child protection plans and subsequent court proceedings would be closely monitored.
