Nearly 8,000 children in Lincolnshire referred to social services

Concerns for the safety of nearly 8,000 children in Lincolnshire were referred to social workers in a year, the latest figures show.

Lincolnshire County Council received a total of 7,957 referrals to its social care services for children who were thought to be at risk during the financial year ending March 31, 2024.

Social workers say that this is an increase on the previous year with domestic abuse, addictions and mental health issues being the most common factors for the referrals.

Nationally, there were 621,880 referrals to children’s social care in the year ending March 31, 2024.

Jo Kavanagh, the county council’s assistant director for children and young people, said: “In 2023/24, we received 7,957 referrals, 848 more than the previous year.

“Domestic abuse and parental alcohol/substance use were the most common factors, followed by parental mental health issues.

“The level of intervention will vary depending on the circumstances. Some families just need extra support. However, whenever there is a risk of harm to a child, we will take the steps necessary to keep them safe. We continue to focus on prevention and early intervention to prevent issues from escalating.”

In Lincolnshire, there are support teams, which are made up of health, Early Help and Family and assessment workers, in each of the county’s district council areas.

The support provided by this service can range from assessments, which look at the key issues faced by the family and how to improve those, to longer-term help, if necessary.

Nationally, 224,520 investigations were also carried out last year to determine whether a child was suffering, or at risk of, significant harm.

Over half of children assessed nationally had abuse or neglect identified as their primary need, with factors around domestic abuse and mental health playing a significant role.

Local Government Association (LGA), which represents authorities, has called on the Government to invest more in services which help children and families — particularly in early intervention to stop people reaching crisis point.

Coun Arooj Shah, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “Council support for children and young people is central to the delivery of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.

“With investment in children’s social care and partner agencies including mental health provision, we can focus on early intervention and preventing children from reaching crisis point, where the level and costs of support are significantly higher.

“The Spending Review is an opportunity for long-term, sustainable funding for children’s social care and the services children and families rely on, that puts the sector on a stable footing and provides the support that enables every child to thrive.”

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