Cafcass: Care applications continue
to rise
Figures released today by Cafcass, the organisation that looks
after vulnerable children’s interests in the family courts, show
that care applications remain at record levels.
There were 832 care applications in March 2010, the highest care
demand figure ever recorded for a single month since Cafcass began
collecting this data. Comparing the whole of 2009-10 to last year’s
figures, care demand was up by 34% (2188 cases). Concurrently,
Cafcass saw a 16% increase in private law (divorce and separation)
cases when compared to 2008-09.
Commenting on the latest figures, Anthony Douglas, Cafcass Chief
Executive said, “I fully support the actions that local authorities
are taking to protect these children, most of whom have complex
long-term needs and for whom there are no easy options or
solutions, either at home or in the care system.”
He went on to say, "There is no doubt though that the sustained
increase in care cases has placed all of us working in the care
system under pressure. However, where agencies are working together
collaboratively, as outlined in the renewed President’s Interim
Guidance, we have found that backlogs in cases have fallen and we
are providing a more timely service to vulnerable children.
“Our new proportionate ways of working, and the introduction of
duty schemes in some areas have allowed us to provide a service to
an increased number of children. It is a great credit to our staff
that in March 2010 they were working on 11,509 care cases – a 26%
increase on the 9,128 cases they were working on in July 2009.”
Click here for the full press release and care applications
graph
Click here for details on the
previous care application statistics for 2009-10