Statistics Publication Notice: Health and Care Series: Children’s Social Work Statistics 2009/10

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has published Children’s Social Work Statistics 2009-10, containing the latest statistics in relation to child protection, secure care accommodation and close support care accommodation. The main findings are:

Child Protection

    * In 2009/10, there were 13,523 child protection referrals, an increase of six per cent compared with the previous year.
    * The total number of registrations on to child protection registers fell by two per cent in 2009/10 (from 3,628 in 2008/09 to 3,551 in 2009/10), whereas the total number de-registrations increased by nine per cent (from 3,499 in 2008/09 to 3,826 in 2009/10).
    * At 31 March 2010, there were 2,518 children on child protection registers, a decrease of six per cent compared with the previous year.

Secure Care and Close Support Care Accommodation

    * There was an average of 99 residents in secure accommodation throughout 2009-10, up from 90 in the previous year.
    * The average cost per bed per week of secure care accommodation was £5,220, ranging from £4,990 to £5,420.
    * There was an average of nine residents in close support accommodation throughout 2009-10.