SPOTLIGHT ON Vulnerable children and young people survey

A summary of the local authority survey in England to help understand the impact of COVID on children’s social care

Number of children

The number of children looked after (CLA) between May 2020 and July 2022 was, on average, three per cent higher than the same period in 2019-20.

Between May and December 2020 the number of children on child protection plans (CPP) was, on average, two per cent higher than in 2019-20. From January 2021 onwards the survey reported a lower number of children on a CPP compared to 2019-20, and continued to do so.

Contact in the last four weeks

Between May 2020 and July 2022 a large proportion of CLA, children on a CPP and other children in need (CIN) had been in contact with a social worker in the last four weeks. For children on a CPP, this proportion remained above 90% in all waves of the survey. For CLA and other CIN, the average proportions were 67% and 61% respectively.

Referrals

The number of referrals to children’s social care services reported in the survey between May 2020 and July 2022 were around nine per cent lower than an average of the same weeks during 2017-20. In May 2020, the number of referrals was16% lower than average; however, this fell to its lowest point in January/February 2021, when referrals were 23% lower than usual. The number of referrals started to return to being closer to usual levels from May 2021 and, by July 2022, they were just five per cent below average.