Eight probes a day over Norfolk children at risk of harm

At a time when the budget for children's service is coming under major pressure, the number of child protection investigations being carried out by Norfolk County Council is increasing.

In the last year there were 2,840 probes, up from 2,762 over the previous 12 months.

This figure amounts to an average of eight investigations a day being conducted into children believed to be at risk of harm in the county.

Known as section 47 enquiries, the investigations happen when council officers identify there is a reasonable cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

Referrals from Norfolk schools about children feared to be at risk of harm have increased (Image: PA)

The rise in investigations nationally - where there are now an average of 600 investigations each day - has been fuelled by an increase of 8pc in schools making referrals to children’s social services over the past five years.

In Norfolk, that percentage was even higher; of 6,260 referrals to social services in 2023/24,  more than a fifth (1,308) were from the county's schools.

That was up on 1,069 the previous year, when school referrals made up 17pc of the 6,253 referrals.

Norfolk County Council is carrying out an average of eight probes a day into children at risk of harm (Image: Mike Page)

Leaders at Norfolk County Council also revealed the average weekly cost of looking after children in external residential care has risen sharply - up from £3,095 for 115 young people in 2022 to £4,708 for 112 this year.

WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS

Penny Carpenter, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for children's services (Image: James Bass)

Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for children's services at Conservative-controlled County Hall, said: "Keeping children safe from harm is an absolutely critical part of the work we do as a council and we will always prioritise this.

"However, it does come with significant financial cost and we support the call for funding that recognises the true pressure councils are facing, particularly as children coming into our care have increasingly complex needs and often require specialised and expensive placements.

READ MORE: Norfolk SEND scheme off track amid concerns for children

We know most children will be happier and healthier if they can live within their own families and communities and we will support parents, wherever we can, to safely care for their children."

The number of children in care has fallen from 1,204 in August 2023 to 1,136 in August 2024.

GROWING PRESSURES AND A 'BROKEN SYSTEM'

The pressure on children's services budgets is mounting, highlighted by a scathing report that says the system for providing support to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is "financially unsustainable".

Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader of the council, which needs to make a further £45m of cuts and savings next year, previously branded that system as "broken".

Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader of Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

And Whitehall's spending watchdog - the National Audit Office - says it urgently needs reform.

In a recently published report, it said families and children lack confidence in England's SEND system, with “insufficient capacity” within schools and longer waiting times to get support.

The county council has been rapped by watchdogs in the past for failing to meet statutory timescales to get education, health and care plans – which set out the provision of SEND support for children need – in place.

The special educational needs system is not delivering better outcomes for young people or preventing local authorities from facing significant financial risks, Whitehall's spending watchdog has warned (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

And Mrs Carpenter said: "The system as it stands is not working.

"Outcomes for children aren’t improving and too many children are having to travel long distances to school and are unable to attend their local mainstream schools, in their communities, with their friends.

"We’re keen to work with the government to support reform because this issue is above politics.

"We need to address it with urgency for the sake of Norfolk’s children."

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson (Image: Ben Whitley / Press Association)

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said she was "determined" to rebuild confidence in the system, but warned reform "will take time".