Government cuts to early intervention funding in the past decade
must be urgently reversed as councils prepare for a surge in
demand for support for children and young people who have
“disappeared” from view as a result of the pandemic, the Local
Government Association says today in a new report.
The LGA said councils are bracing
themselves for a rise in referrals for support that would have
normally been made when children were being seen regularly by
social workers and health workers.
Some children and families will need
significant interventions, including child protection plans or
even coming into the care system. But for many, they will just
need some extra help to get through a difficult period. That
could be low level mental health support, sessions with a youth
worker, understanding how to support children showing difficult
behaviours, or working through parental
conflict.
However, the Early Intervention Grant has
been reduced by the Government by almost two-thirds – down from
£2.8 billion in 2010/11 to £1.1 billion in 2018/19. As a result,
many children’s services departments have been forced to cut back
the universal and early help services – such as children’s
centres and family support services – that can help tackle and
prevent emerging problems before they reach crisis
point.
In its publication, ‘A child-centred
recovery’, launched today, the LGA, which represents councils, is
calling for the Spending Review to restore the lost £1.7 billion
in funding to councils. This would enable councils to reinstate
some of these lost services which can help all children, young
people and families to thrive.
Councils are expecting a rise in
referrals for increased family, child and adolescent support as
the pandemic enters a second phase and amid increased lockdown
measures introduced across the country this
week.
These referrals could be as a result of
physical and domestic abuse, which have soared during lockdown;
isolation; young carers taking on even more responsibility; and
from the strain on families due to mental health challenges, job
losses, alcohol and drug misuse problems, and bereavements as a
result of the pandemic.
The LGA says the number of children in
care has been rising each year and could increase further as a
result of COVID-19. It is also warning that the impact of the
virus may fall harder on disadvantaged children, who are likely
to need even more support.
Concerns have also been raised over
analysis indicating that young people may be worst affected by
pandemic-related job losses, and about young people becoming more
vulnerable and being drawn into youth violence and county lines
drug activities, or being criminally
exploited.
The LGA says a lack of investment in
early help services will lead to much greater costs to the public
purse as problems escalate and become far more
severe.
It says children need to be at the heart
of policy and decision-making to ensure every child can thrive,
with local safety nets properly resourced and well
organised.
The LGA is also calling on government to
urgently work with councils and providers to increase the
availability of placements for looked-after children and young
people to ensure that suitable placements are available to meet
their needs.
Cllr , Chair of the
LGA’s Children and Young People Board,
said:
“If we are to avoid families falling into
crisis and causing long-term damage to the prospects of children
and young people, the Spending Review needs to ensure councils
have enough funding to reinvest in the preventative services that
children, young people and families need, as soon as they need it
– and before problems escalate and reach crisis
point.
“Children’s services were already under
strain prior to the pandemic, but those pressures have been
exacerbated by COVID-19 and these services are now even more
crucial to help families get through difficult periods. Funding
to meet increased demand for child protection and children in
care services is also vital.
“Support for significant interventions,
including child protection plans and children entering the care
system, will be needed, alongside proper investment in both
children’s mental health services, which are under enormous
strain, and vital youth services to help a generation hit hard
during the crisis.
“The Government’s review of the
children’s care system needs to begin as soon as possible, but we
want to work with ministers ahead of this on increasing provision
for care placements so councils can continue to best support and
protect our most vulnerable
children.”
NOTES TO
EDITORS
1. Councils in England face a funding gap
of more than £5 billion by 2024 to maintain services at current
levels - this figure could double amid the huge economic and
societal uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The
LGA’s detailed submission to the Comprehensive Spending
Review sets out how £10 billion is needed to not
only plug this gap but meet growing demand pressures and improv
e! services for communities.
2. The full report, ‘A child-centred
recovery’, is available here.
