Children’s social work statistics published
By News Scotland

Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland, No.1: 2012 Edition.

This publication contains the latest statistics in relation to children looked after, child protection, secure care accommodation and close support care accommodation.

The main findings are:

Children Looked After

  • At July 31, 2011 there were 16,171 children looked after by local authorities, an increase of two per cent since July 31, 2010. The number of looked after children has increased every year since 2001, and is at its highest since 1981
  • There were 4,845 children who started to be looked after during 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2011. This was a very small drop from 4,859 during August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010
  • There were 4,746 children who ceased to be looked after during August 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011, an increase of five per cent from August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010
  • There were 3,662 young people reported to be eligible for aftercare services on July 31, 2011. 36 per cent of those receiving aftercare and who had a known economic activity were in education, training or employment, a decrease of one percentage point on July 31, 2010
  • At July 31, 2011 there were 1,810 children and young people under 21 years old being looked after on a current planned series of short term placements

Child Protection

  • At July 31, 2011, there were 2,571 children on Child Protection Registers, a two per cent increase compared with March 31, 2010
  • In 2010/11, the total number of registrations on to child protection registers rose by nine per cent (from 3,551 in 2009/10 to 3,884 in 2010/11), whereas the total number of de-registrations showed no change compared with the previous year

Secure Care and Close Support Care Accommodation

  • At July 31, 2011, there were seven secure units providing a total of 112 places. However, St. Philips was closing on August 1, 2011 and was ‘winding down’ from July 1, 2011
  • There were 273 admissions between August 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011. This was a decrease of 13 per cent compared with the period April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010. There were 259 discharges between August 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 (a decrease of 16 per cent compared with the period April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010)