Child protection investigations have hit a record high, with numbers amounting to more than 600 a day on average, the LGA has warned.
It is calling for emergency funding for children’s social care to be announced in the Budget on 30 October.
Government statistics show a record 225,400 child protection investigations in England in the year to 31 March 2023 – equivalent to 617 a day. This is 66 more cases each day than in 2019, when the current data set started being collected.
Child protection investigations, known as section 47 enquiries, take place whenever a council identifies a reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm.
The LGA is calling on the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to use her first Budget to ensure councils are fully funded and resourced to tackle the rising demand for support for vulnerable children.
Councils have faced spiralling costs and pressures in children’s social care, with budgets up by 11 per cent in real terms in the last year alone. Key drivers behind the increase in children needing support include mental health concerns and domestic abuse.
The rise in investigations has also been fuelled by an increase in schools making referrals to children’s social services, with an 8 per cent increase in five years.
Cllr Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “It is deeply saddening when any child experiences suffering, and it is absolutely right that councils act where there are concerns. However, these disturbingly high figures show the huge pressures councils are under to intervene and provide that vital care and support.
“As a society, we must do what we can collectively to ensure every child is safe from harm.
“This is why we are calling on the Chancellor to provide an emergency cash injection for children’s social care to help councils continue to provide this lifeline of support for vulnerable children.”
