Lack of resources affecting ability to meet statutory duties to children: councillors

Lack of resources prevents councils from meeting their statutory duties to children, according to 40% of councillors responding to a National Children’s Bureau (NCB) survey.

The charity also found that 87% of councillors felt demand for children’s services had risen over the last two years and 66% said insufficient funding prevented them from offering universal services such as children’s centres or youth clubs.

Some 35% of respondents said their council lacked the resources to support children in need, with 35% having insufficient funds to help children in care, and 30% unable to support children with protection plans.

Among lead members responsible for children’s services, 50% said this was partly due to increased levels of poverty and hardship, while 45% said cuts to other services, such as housing support, were a factor.

Rising levels of abuse and neglect were cited by 24% as reasons why demand for services had increased, although 36% said part of the reason was professionals getting better at spotting the signs of urgent need.

NCB chief executive Anna Feuchtwang said: ”It’s becoming increasingly clear that across England local authorities are struggling to meet the needs of children and young people, including those at considerable risk.

“We should be stepping in to help these children as early as possible, but with two-thirds of lead members saying they have insufficient resources to provide universal services, prevention and early help are falling by the wayside, as councils are forced to prioritise funds for those closest to crisis.”

Ms Feuchtwang said it was striking that half of lead members linked growing pressure on services with poverty, and urged central government to act “so that families can access the help they need when they need it.”

Association of Directors of Children’s Services president Alison Michalska said her members shared councillors’ concerns.

“Local authorities are absolutely committed to improving children’s life chances but a series of conflicting national policy initiatives coupled with dramatic reductions in public sector funding are increasingly affecting our ability to improve outcomes,” she said.

Budget cuts since 2010 had hit non-statutory services tipping families into crisis and driving up demand for child protection services, Ms Michalska said.

She urged chancellor Philip Hammond to address the £2bn funding shortfall facing children’s services by 2020 in his Budget.

Mark Smulian