For the first time, more is being spent on residential care placements for children than on early intervention services, leading charities warn.
Councils in England spent £2.4bn on residential care placements in 2022/23 compared with £2.2bn spent on all early intervention services such as children’s centres, family hubs and youth services.
Commissioned by the Children’s Charities Coalition, the research by Pro Bono Economics found that the amount spent by councils on early intervention services for families has fallen by £1.8bn – a 44% drop – since 2010/11.
The research also showed the number of children in care has increased by 28% during the same period and spending on late intervention services has reached record levels, increasing by £3.6bn (57%).
