March 2011 sees all-time record in care applications
The number of care applications in March 2011 was the highest ever recorded for a single month at 882, Cafcass has revealed.
According to the advisory organisation, the number of applications for April 2010 to March 2011 was 9,137. This represents a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2009/10.
Records were also broken for each individual month with the exception of June and December.
The total for 2010/11 continues the surge in applications in recent years. The number of applications for each of the last five years is as follows:
- 2006/07: 6,786
- 2007/08: 6,241
- 2008/09: 6,488
- 2009/10: 8,826
- 2010/11: 9,137
Each application can involve multiple children.
Graham Cole, a child care specialist at Luton Borough Council, said he was not surprised by the figures, which reflect the numbers in his own authority.
Cole, who is chairman of the Local Authority Child Care Lawyers Group (part of Solicitors in Local Government), said: "The increasing resource limitations will make it difficult for local authorities to manage these cases effectively. All agencies including the courts, are under pressure as a result of these limitations. The reforms proposed in the Family Justice Review are urgently needed."
