Latest Cafcass care demand statistics

Charlotte Ramsden, Chair of the ADCS Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee, said:

“The number of care applications being made to courts in recent years has increased year-on year placing significant pressure on the system including on the courts, Cafcass and local authorities. Whilst these figures, seemingly show a slight decrease in the number of care applications made in July 2017 compared with the same period last year it is too early to tell whether this is a long-term trend and will result in an overall reduction in the full year figure for 2017/18, or simply a fluctuation. Local authorities will continue to keep children and young people with highest level of need safe from harm safe despite experiencing rising demand for our services at the same time as reducing budgets. It is crucial that more work is done to fully understand demand for children’s services and that these services are fully funded, without this there is a risk that the system could buckle under pressure.”

ENDS

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