Local authorities improving timing of care applications, say guardians

Local authorities are timing their care applications more appropriately and at an earlier stage of their involvement with families, guardians have reported.

A Cafcass survey of 200 guardians – in relation to 343 care applications involving 403 children – also found that in the vast majority of cases (85.4%) guardians believed that the local authority’s care application was the only viable action and that there was no other alternative.

In only 36 cases (14.6%) did guardians identify a possible alternative to care proceedings.

Key findings from the study included:

• In two thirds of cases (67.1%) guardians felt that the care application was timed appropriately, a marked increase from the level of just over half the cases (53.7%) found in Cafcass’ survey in 2009. “This increase was matched by a similar drop in the number of applications seen as being ‘late’,” it said. In just 4.1% of cases did the guardian feel that the application was premature. 
• One-fifth of children (19.8%) had not been previously involved with children’s services at the time of the application. This compared to the 11.5% seen in the 2009 study. Just 9.1% of children had been continuously involved with children’s services for more than five years, a steep fall on the 36.1% seen three years ago. “This suggests that local authorities are taking action earlier to keep children safe.”
• There was a greater prevalence of neglect in this year’s sample, compared to 2009, and the children subject to Child Protection Plans (under the category of neglect) had been known to local authorities for less time than was previously the case. “This suggests that neglect is now being acted upon more quickly, and applications in which neglect is a feature are being made an earlier stage than was the case three or more years ago.”
• Guardians said that the local authority had met the requirements of the Public Law Outline entirely in 40.1% of cases and partially in 45.6% of cases in relation to providing courts with the requisite information. Late or premature applications were not viewed as being as well prepared in regards to information provision.
• Care applications from London boroughs were identified by guardians as being more appropriately timed than those from outside London (75.5% appropriately timed), and most likely to meet the requirements for providing information to court.

Over the last three years Cafcass has seen local authority care applications rise by 62% in the aftermath of the Baby Peter Connelly case. In 2011/12 it received a record 10,218 new applications – up 11% on the previous financial year.

Cafcass has also published five years of individual local authority care application data. This showed that 14 local authorities saw a net decrease in the number of applications per 10,000 children in the five years to 2011/12. Some 53 local authorities meanwhile witnessed a decrease or no change in the application rate in 2011/12.

Anthony Douglas, Cafcass Chief Executive, said: “After the panic that came with the Baby Peter media storm, the intensive reviewing by local authorities of cases has paid off for children: the intervention they need is coming earlier and cases are drifting less.

“Local authority staff are to be praised for this improved performance and local authority members should be praised for their political bravery in supporting these vital but not always locally popular services.”

Responding to the study, Debbie Jones, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said: “These findings are a credit to frontline social workers who work with children and families and who make submissions to court as well as the result of partnership working between local authorities and the courts to improve the care proceedings process.”

She said that what was particularly pleasing was the finding that neglect cases were not only coming to court promptly but doing so with strong evidence for the negative effects on child development.

Jones added: “There is no room for complacency however, with some cases still arriving at court unprepared or too late, and local authorities will be working closely with the family justice system, Cafcass and social work educators to underline the importance of swift and appropriate decision making and the skills required to give evidence to the court.”

The ADCS President also said it was important to remember that even where an application to court was timely and well-prepared, delays could occur in the court system itself and that these delays were similarly damaging to children waiting for a decision about their future.

The Cafcass Care Study 2012 can be viewed here.