Helen Lincoln, Chair of the ADCS Families, Communities and Young People Network, said:
“The latest DfE statistics echo what our Safeguarding Pressures Phase 9 report highlighted earlier this year, demand for children’s social care continues to rise and the needs we’re seeing are becoming more complex.
“Children’s services are operating under unprecedented pressure. Years of rising demand and declining investment have eroded the early help and preventative services that make the biggest difference for the children and families we support.
“The ongoing effects of the pandemic, worsening mental health among children and parents, housing insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis are all driving up need. Poverty and deprivation remain closely linked to safeguarding, yet these are challenges no single service can solve alone.
“The interconnectedness of life, public services and need has never been clearer. A crisis in one part of the system, for example, the strain on the NHS, inevitably ripples across others, with more children, young people and families turning to us for support with mental health and wellbeing. These are shared societal pressures that demand collective solutions.
“Government must commit to a coherent, long-term plan for children and young people, one that is genuinely cross-departmental and brings together education, health, policing and other key partners to tackle poverty, inequality and systemic inequities that continue to impact children and families facing racial or social disadvantage.
“ADCS calls on government to take purposeful and decisive action in the forthcoming reforms, to address these issues head-on. By investing in children and families now, we can strengthen communities, improve outcomes, and give every child and young person the opportunity to thrive.”
ENDS
The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) Ltd is the professional leadership association for Directors of Children's Services and their senior management teams in England.