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Children’s social care explained

According to the latest government figures, a record 80,000 children are living in care in England alone. On top of that, there are around 388,500 children in need of some level of extra support. Following the cost-of-living crisis and a decade of cuts in funding these children’s services are struggling under the weight of demand. Here we break down what children’s social care is, why it is so important and how the government can help turn things around. 

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What is children's social care?

Social care worker with child and father

What is children's social care?

Simply put, children’s social care refers to all forms of personal care for children and young people who need extra support. 

Good social care opens up opportunities and improves mental health. It has the power to change young people’s lives.

Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that children living in their area are safe and supported to stay well and healthy.  Where that isn’t the case, children’s social care will support families that are struggling by themselves. The social workers may work for the council or a charity that has been commissioned by local authorities to provide support. 

children's social care

That support can range from low level support, such as personal home visits to help keep a young person active and involved in the community. Or it can be higher level. In some cases a young person might need to be taken into care. It is this that we are going to go into more detail about. 

Who gets children's social care?  

There are many different reasons why children and young people might enter care. It could be because the child's needs are such that parents are not able to meet them at home or if parents needs prevent them from looking after a child. It can also be because the child is at risk of harm from someone at home or outside their family.  

It could also be if children having learning disabilities or they do not have anyone to look after them, for example if they don't have family or arrived in this country as unaccompanied asylum seekers. 

Sometimes children’s services will intervene if they think a child is at risk of exploitation or other forms of harm. Social care is a route to keeping them safe. 

What is early intervention?

What is early intervention?

Early intervention is support given to young people or their family when an issue first arises. The focus is on improving a situation before it gets out of hand.  

An example could be a child showing behaviours that suggest they are at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation. Once alerted, a social worker will be called in to get to the bottom of what is happening and put together a plan to help the young person stay safe. 

family with practitioner
Boy looking out of window, side profile.

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Why is early intervention important? 

If a problem is left for too long, it can make fixing it all the more difficult. By supporting children early, this improves the chances of protecting children from harm, reducing the need for child protection services to be involved, and improve children’s long-term outcomes. 

Early help can also ensure that the young person involved learns and develops strengths and skills that can help them beyond their current situation.  

When social care works

I felt accepted, I felt listened to and valued. I felt accepted, I felt listened to and valued.

When social care works

Musa arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied asylum seeker when he was 17. Without the correct legal advice or a voice to advocate for him, he was facing deportation to the country where his life was in danger. 

With the help of one of our social workers he was able to find a solicitor who provided him with the legal advice and the representation he needed. The weekly events and his social worker helped him through these difficult times, not only legally but emotionally. 

social care

‘They made us all play together, work together, do something together, so you forget your past for a few hours.’  

‘I think that's the first place that I felt comfortable. I felt accepted, I felt listened to and valued.’ 

Musa has now completed a degree in Law and is currently training to become a barrister so that he can help other young people. 

Why are we talking about this? 

Children and families, particularly those living in poverty, are suffering after funding cuts to local authorities. This means children and young people are more likely to suffer abuse, neglect or exploitation inside and outside the home. 

To combat this, we have joined up with other children’s charities to highlight the difficulties local authorities face following a decade of under-investment in children’s services. 

Children’s services can be a lifeline. The Government must make a significant and long-term funding commitment to help families across the country and stop problems spiraling out of control. 

Read our report Stopping the spiral: children's services spending

 

Author: Edward Herbert