Children's Social Care Budgets

The aim of the survey was to gather evidence ahead of an anticipated Spending Review in late 2019, and also to inform future work on the LGA’s Bright Futures campaign which calls for properly-funded children’s services. Lead members were invited to share their personal reflections on three key areas: social care budgets for children and young people; children looked after and child protection pressures; and budget confidence.

An online survey was sent to all lead members for children’s services in England (152 local authorities). The survey was in the field between 15 February and 27 March 2019. A total of 76 councils responded (50 per cent response rate).



Responses were received from between 33 and 78 per cent of authority types (see Table 1). London boroughs represented the lowest proportion of responses, and shire counties the highest. Between 33 and 79 per cent of councils per region replied (33 per cent of London boroughs and 79 per cent of West Midlands councils) – see Table 2.



The information collected has been aggregated, and no individuals or authorities are identified in this report. Due to the size of the response, the results should be taken as a snapshot of the views of all local authorities in England, rather than as representative picture overall.