1. The Study Freedom of Information Request sent to all 152 Local Authorities in England Responses from 114 - 75% of all LAs Over half million children born in 2009-10 covered by the 114 local authorities 115,737 children referred to Children’s social care (22.5% of those born in 2009-10) before the age of 5

2. Referral: Someone has reported a concern about a child being in need or at risk of harm to local authority children’s services Assessment: The concern may need children’s social care to intervene and a social worker meets the child and family and assesses whether services are required and what action to take. Section 17 Child In Need: Services are required because the child is unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development, or whose health and development is likely to be significantly or further impaired, if services were not provided; or the child is disabled Strategy Discussion: There is suspicion that the child may be at risk of significant harm and police and other agencies are consulted to decide if a Section 47 child protection investigation is needed. Section 47 Enquiry: Investigation of suspected significant harm and assessment of action required to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child. Child Protection Conference: The Section 47 Enquiry finds the child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm and the conference is held to decide on and plan further action Child Protection Plan: Intervention to ensure the child is safe; promote the child’s health and development; and support the family in doing this 22.5% 17.0% 14.3% 6.2% 5.4% 3.7% 3.5%

3. 7 referred (23%) 4 in need (15%) 1.6 investigated (5%) 1 Child Protection Plan (3%) 0.5 in care (1.7%) 2 abuse or neglect 1 dysfunctional family

4. Child Protection and deprivation in the UK Rate of Children looked after and on Child Protection Plans on 31.03.2012 per 10,000 aged 0 to 17 by deprivation decile Source: Bywaters, P., Brady, G., Sparks, T., & Bos, E. (2014) Estimated that before the age of 5 in most deprived 10%: 45% referred 29% in need 22% suspected of abuse/neglect 11% investigated 7% had CP plan 3.5% in care Increasing Deprivation

5. Trend in Investigations in England 2009-10 to 2014-15 % of Referrals and Children in Need that were Investigated % Investigated 2009-102014-15 Referrals15%25% Children in need24%40% 79.4% increase in children investigated from 89,300 to 160,200 Children investigated but no child protection plan doubles (+118%) from 45,000 to 98,000 More children were investigated without finding serious harm in 2014-15 than the total number investigated in 2009-10 Children investigated but no child protection plan doubles (+118%) from 45,000 to 98,000 More children were investigated without finding serious harm in 2014-15 than the total number investigated in 2009-10 % of referrals investigated increases from 15% to 25% and children in need investigated increases from 24% to 40%

6. Reports, Investigation and Harm in Western Australia 1996 to 2009

7. Questions Raised by Research Is the high level of statutory intervention (referrals, assessments, etc.) effective in increasing well- being? Is Early Help reducing the need for further intervention or does it net-widen? Is the system supportive of parenting? What is it like to live in areas of high deprivation where there are high levels of referral and intervention?

8. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY YOUR COUNTRY WILL BLAME PROFESSIONALS J OIN T HE R EFERRAL A RMY !