Children’s services on ‘dangerous footing’ as report blames ‘crippling’ government cuts
Children’s services for those most at risk are on a “dangerous footing” charities have warned, with Government cuts being blamed for funding being slashed.
Councils have had less money to spend on early intervention services since 2010, a joint report from three leading children’s charities said.
Children in the most deprived communities have been hardest hit, The Children’s Society, Action for Children and the National Children’s Bureau warned.
In their report entitled Turning the Tide, the groups have called on the Government to provide urgent extra money for councils, which could be used to fund services designed to tackle problems early on.
The charities’ research, based on the latest inflation figures and government spending allocations, suggested specific funding made available for early intervention services has fallen by £1.7 billion across England between 2010 and 2016.
Council spending on such services, designed to identify early signs of neglect or abuse, has fallen by 40% in that period, the report said.
Support for pregnant teenagers, breaks for disabled children and funding of youth centres are among the services affected by early intervention cuts, the charities said.
The Local Government Association said councils have tried to reduce the impact of funding cuts, but are having to work to support an increasing number of children in care.
Richard Watts (pictured), chairman of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: “Last year saw the biggest annual increase in children in care since 2010, and councils simply cannot continue to provide the level of support that these children and young people need without urgent action to provide the funding necessary to do so.
“With such high demand for child protection services, councils have been forced to scale back the early help that can make such a difference in reducing the need for this support in the first place.”
He added: “We are calling on the Government to use the Autumn Budget to commit to fully funding children’s services and invest in improving services to ensure vulnerable children get the appropriate support and protection they need.”
Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive at Action for Children, said: “Crippling central government funding cuts have left local authorities with no option but to close early help services designed to spot signs of abuse and neglect and move to a ‘crisis’ fire-fighting model.
“With no long-term solution on the table, children’s services are on an unstable and dangerous footing.”
Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “All too often central government shrugs off responsibility for council spending decisions but the figures are stark and undeniable: councils are being denied the funding they need to provide safe, effective children’s services and spending on vital support is collapsing as a result.
“We are at a tipping point with more cuts yet to come.
“The Government must step up and give councils the funds they need to protect our children.”
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