Councils’ ability to provide the critical care and support that children rely on has been put at risk by the Autumn Statement’s lack of investment in children’s social care, the LGA has warned.
Funding for early years and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were also missing from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s announcement in November.
Ahead of the Autumn Statement, the LGA was joined by charities and campaigners in calling for an increase in the children’s social care budget, in an open letter to the Chancellor.
The 29 signatories included Barnardo’s, Action for Children, Centre for Mental Health and the Care Leavers’ Association.
They warned of “a perfect storm” of financial pressures and rising numbers of children needing help.
Figures released last month show there are now 83,840 children in local authority care in England, and the proportion of council budgets going towards meeting children’s social care continues to grow – despite real-term reductions in councils’ spending power.
The coalition warned that much of this funding is being spent on supporting children at the highest risk, meaning less money can be invested in early intervention services that can step in before a child and their family reach crisis point.
LGA Chair Cllr Shaun Davies said: “For some time now, councils, charities, those with lived experience and other voices from the sector, have been warning of the serious challenges facing children’s social care.
“Councils are doing everything they can to provide the vital care and support our vulnerable children need and deserve.
“Additional funding is urgently needed to stabilise the children’s social care system before it is pushed to the brink.”