Responding to latest figures by Cafcass on the number of children’s cases it holds, Helen Lincoln, Chair of the ADCS Families, Communities and Young People Policy Network, said:

“National data insights from the Department for Education are lagged and this more timely Cafcass data does not include the characteristics of the children entering care, although we do know the general trend in recent years has been for an increase in over-16s entering care, many of whom have complex and overlapping health and social care needs.

“This picture may vary from place to place, as lots of families are still struggling and reaching crisis point.”

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