NSPCC: CONCERNS OVER NUMBER OF ‘CHILDREN IN NEED’ IN WALES

NSPCC Cymru / Wales has raised concerns over the number of Welsh children who are still categorised as ‘in need’ following abuse or neglect.

According to recently released Welsh government figures, 19,385 children were categorised as ‘in need’ in 2015 – defined as receiving social services from Wales’ 22 local authorities, including those who are looked after by them.

Categories in the census included disability or illness, family dysfunction and absent parenting. But by far the largest group included those who had been abused or neglected, with 9,960 receiving social services support for these reasons last year.

The figure remains higher than in 2010 – the year the data was first collected – when the number of children in need receiving support for abuse or neglect stood at 8,785.

Following the latest statistics, which show the continuing scale of the issue, NSPCC Cymru / Wales is calling for action to pre-empt abuse and help children at a far earlier stage, improving the way risks are identified and better training Welsh professionals to deal with them.

The charity is also calling for more to be done to recognise the issues which affect families and lead to the abuse and neglect of children, including substance misuse, domestic abuse, poor mental health and inadequate housing.

Head of NSPCC Cymru / Wales, Des Mannion, said:

“The number of children requiring support following abuse or neglect remains disturbingly high.

“It’s absolutely crucial that significant efforts are increasingly targeted towards early intervention. That means recognising the signs – identifying the risks – and taking action as soon as possible.

“Not only could that change young lives in the long-term, it could also save frontline services billions of pounds.”

Research by the Early Intervention Foundation – included in the NSPCC’s 2016 Assembly election manifesto – put the cost of failing to intervene early at £1.15 billion in Wales last year, with services like health, local government and police all facing the heaviest financial burden.

Successfully improving early intervention in Wales forms a focus of the manifesto, which calls for the next Welsh government to ensure:

• Improved training for professionals who work with children and young people, increasing knowledge of how to identify and respond to risk factors and early signs of abuse
• A Children’s Minister, as in England and Scotland
• Regular analysis of child practice reviews and shared learning across Wales
• Increased awareness of child abuse and the various forms it can take

The NSPCC also delivers a number of programmes in Wales designed to tackle abuse and neglect, including:

Improving Parenting, Improving Practice: a package of support which helps parents who may be struggling to care for their children

Safecare: a programme for parents of children aged five or under, which aims to help the development of parenting skills

Baby Steps: an educational scheme which focuses on pregnancy and the first months of a child’s life

Des Mannion added:

“NSPCC Cymru / Wales is calling for improved training for professionals who work with children and young people.

“We also want to see a Children’s Minister in the next Welsh government – enhancing co-ordination, increasing education and tackling the risk factors which make child abuse more likely to happen.”