Cafcass care statistics January 2012
8th February 2012
Care application demand has remained at a very high level.
Between April 2011 and January 2012, Cafcass received 8,403 new
applications. This figure is 12.4% higher when compared to the same
period last financial year. Applications received between May 2011
to January 2012 this year have been the highest ever recorded by
Cafcass for these individual months. January 2012 saw the highest
ever number of care applications recorded in an individual month,
with 903 applications.
Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of Cafcass said,
“Agencies are working more quickly to ensure that children
are removed from deeply damaging households where many have been
for some time and are showing a lower tolerance for poor parenting.
What we are seeing is an elimination of drift in neglect cases and
a greater recognition of the appalling impact of neglect can have
on children. Nearly every child involved needs love, care and
therapy, either back home or elsewhere. All agencies need to factor
in these much larger increases into their planning systems,
resource allocations, workforce development strategies and service
contracts, so that the most vulnerable children in the country
continue to receive strong public services. The profile of children
coming into the care system unwavering: an unquestionable need for
care for the vast majority, and the urgent need to be given their
normal childhood back and to be allowed to develop in a loving and
supportive family environment."
Click
here to view the care statistics graph.
Click here to review previous care statistics releases.
Contact Naomi Lawson 0844 353 3320 / 07768 796484 for further
information.