Martin Ford 24 February 2021

Children’s services face £824m budget gap

Children’s services face £824m budget gap image

A funding shortfall of £824m is being faced by children’s services, according to research published today.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) said the amount was required just to enable their work to ‘stay still’ amid increasing demand.

ADCS' analysis - based on a survey on pressures during 2019/20 - found half of respondents reported a reduction in funding ranging between 15% and 30%.

The report highlighted dwindling budgets for prevention and early intervention work, currently ‘propped up’ by the Troubled Families programme, which is due to end in March next year.

It found there were 642,980 referrals to children’s social care in 2019/20, an increase of almost 20% since 2008.

Following a drop due to the closure of schools during the early month of the COVID-19 pandemic, some authorities are currently reporting a surge in referrals.

In addition, the number of child protection plans has increased by 76% since 2008.

ADCS’ analysis concluded that variation in the rates of demand for children’s services between councils was ‘greater than ever’.

It said variation depended on factors such as deprivation and geography, and can be influenced by service transformation programmes and numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

ADCS president Jenny Coles said: ‘There can be no delay in levelling up the social, health, education and geographical inequalities made more visible by the pandemic.

'Children’s life chances and all of our futures depend on it.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum + + Pension
Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£30,377 per annum, full time equivalent / equal to £15.74 per hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Urban Design Intern

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Assistant Urban Design InternFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - Safeguarding Team

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - ASC Centralised Safeguarding TeamFixed Term, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner