New figures for looked after children "all in the red"

Austerity measures have led to a rise in the number of children who are cared for by the state across West Berkshire.

The news emerged during a meeting of the Health and Well-being board held in Newbury last week and revealed that figures for looked after children – those provided with accommodation by the local authority for longer than one day – had all got worse since last year.

Across the district, the number of looked after children per 10,000 of the population is 50, which is above the ‘normal range’ of between 38 and 46, and the number of child protection plans – identifying children as in need of further support from the state – is 39 per every 10,000, above the normal range of between 28 and 34.

The greatest leap since the figures from the previous quarter, was the number of Section 47 enquiries – which consider whether to take a child into care because of a threat of “significant harm” – which is 34 per 10,000 of the population, well above the normal range of between 20 and 25.

Speaking at the health meeting on Thursday, Communities Director Rachael Wardell said: “We know that looked after children per 10,000 of the population, child protection plans and Section 47 orders are all now in the red zone.

“So we have more than the national average for our demography here.

“Of course if one brings a child into a [child protection] plan it’s because it is necessary so these are demand-led figures. But we are looking to bring these figures down in the case of children needing protection.”

Explaining the reasons behind the figures she added: “We think we are seeing pressure on families from some of the features of austerity. There are more families experiencing insecurity around their work and more families experiencing insecurity around their home.

“Therefore more of that pressure is being brought to bear on their children.”

The figures have increased in each category since they were flagged as a “hot focus” last year by the district’s health board.

The number of young people subject to child protection plans in West Berkshire has leapt from 23 at the end of last year to 39 per 10,000 of the population for this quarter. This now stands above the national average of 38.

As previously reported in December the single largest reason for such orders last year was for neglect.

For the full story pick up a copy of the Newbury Weekly News out tomorrow.