Safeguarding Pressures Phase 4

17 Nov 2014 in Safeguarding and Child Protection > Safeguarding & Child Protection >

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Safeguarding-related pressures on local authority children’s services have been the subject of much debate and media attention since the death of Peter Connelly in 2007. ADCS commissioned the first two phases of its ‘Safeguarding Pressures’ research in 2010 to explore the rise in activity and evaluate the impact it was having on service planning and delivery. Phase three of the research was published in 2012 and the fourth in 2014.

Evidence of increases in initial contacts; referrals and children becoming subjects of a child protection plan have been evidenced throughout all four phases of the research which appears to be the result of a wide range of reasons, some of which were positive, including better awareness amongst professionals, but also due to population rises and the budget reductions triggered by the economic downturn.

102 of the 152 local authorities in England responded to the Association’s request for data, providing qualitative and quantitative information about changes to safeguarding activities within their area for the year ending 31st March 2014.

The results of this exercise were published in November 2014, the full report and an executive summary of the findings can be found below.

Phase 4 final report

Phase 4 executive summary

Phase 4 press release