“It is absolutely vital that the Autumn Statement ensures that children’s services are adequately funded so councils can meet this rising demand and ensure children and their families get the support they need, as soon as they need it."
Responding to the characteristics of children in need statistics for 2022, published today, Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“These deeply concerning figures show that the number of children in need of support from councils is now at its highest level since before the pandemic.
“It is absolutely vital that the Autumn Statement ensures that children’s services are adequately funded so councils can meet this rising demand and ensure children and their families get the support they need, as soon as they need it.
“The Government must stand by its commitment to respond to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care by the end of this year so that we can get on with the job of reforming the system without further delay. This must be accompanied by truly transformational investment by the Treasury in the services that give all children the best start in life.”
Notes to editors
Councils spent over £10.5 billion on children’s social care in 2020/21, nearly 25 per cent more than the £8.5 billion spent in 2016/17 due to rising demand for support.