By Vivienne Russell | 11 April 2012
Care applications received by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Court Service have reached a record high, statistics published today reveal.
The figures show that councils made 10,199 applications between April 2011 and March 2012, 10.8% more than in the previous financial year.
The figures for January 2012 were the highest in an individual month, at 912. In March, there were 886 applications.
Commenting on the figures, Jane Stacey, deputy chief executive of children’s charity Barnardo’s, said: ‘While the increase in the number of children being referred into care might seem alarming, I am pleased that decisions are being made more quickly to remove children from damaging situations.
‘We must intervene early to support parents but where this is not effective, action must be taken. Care can and does improve the lives of vulnerable children.’
