“The reasons for these increases are likely to vary and may reflect a range of local and systemic factors. We are continuing to work with our local authority partners at a local level to try and anticipate the likely flow of future work.”

The chair of the ADCS’s families, communities and young people policy network, Helen Lincoln, said there had been a general trend in recent years for the number of over-16s entering care to increase, with many of this group having “complex and overlapping health and social care needs”.

She added: “This picture may vary from place to place, as lots of families are still struggling and reaching crisis point.”

Government aims to reduce numbers going into care

The Department for Education (DfE) reform agenda aims to shift the balance of the children’s social care system towards earlier intervention to support families manage pressures and complexities in their lives, in order to prevent children going into care.

Its chief vehicle to achieve this is the creation of multidisciplinary family help services, which are designed to provide families with non-stigmatising, relationship-based support from a consistent lead practitioner, helped by a wider team around the family.

In addition, the DfE is urging councils to make much greater use of family group decision making (FGDM) meetings, which offer families the opportunity to develop their own plans to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need or at risk.

Under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently going through Parliament, councils will be required to offer families an FGDM meeting at the pre-proceedings stage, giving them an opportunity to propose alternatives to care proceedings.

Cafcass, care proceedings, children's social care policy, Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, family courts, family help

0 Responses to Councils increasingly applying to take children into care, show Cafcass figures

Donna September 25, 2025 at 9:35 pm #

If cafcass is saying this why don’t the guardians stop working against familya then and work with the. To get children home to there parents and get orders revoked and soca workers work with family with learning needs or disabilities or disabled  then there wouldn't be so many children in the systems sign and share now please 

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