Income boost for poorest could reduce child protection plans

A modest increase in the income of the poorest families could reduce the number of child protection plans and save councils money, a study has found.

Researchers claim addressing financial hardship “should be a central part of safeguarding policy and practice”.

The Kingston University-led study found children living below the relative poverty line were 3.1 per cent more likely to be subjected to a child protection plan.

Across the six local authorities that were examined, the findings suggest there would be 300 fewer child protection plans if all children were above the poverty line.

The cost of these plans was estimated to be £3.6 million over three years, around one per cent of the total safeguarding expenditure across the six authorities.

Researchers also found the re-referral rate was 3.5 per cent higher for children living below the relative poverty line at the six authorities.

An analysis of the universal credit uplift introduced during the Covid pandemic showed families in need of support were less likely to progress to child protection plans.

Rick Hood, professor of social work at Kingston University, said: “This study shows when families’ incomes fall, involvement with children’s social care increases – and when incomes rise, it can reduce the need for more intensive intervention. Even relatively small improvements in income can make a meaningful difference to families under pressure. 

“This has clear implications for policy. Decisions that reduce support for low-income families risk increasing demand on child protection services, while measures that strengthen family finances can help prevent problems escalating in the first place.” 

The research, Linking Household Benefits, Financial Precarity and Child Welfare, was a collaboration between Kingston University, the National Children’s Bureau, Policy in Practice, the University of Sussex and Research in Practice.

Parents interviewed highlighted how financial hardship impacted on their children’s health, wellbeing and school attendance. It also contributed to parental stress, domestic conflict, substance abuse, housing instability and missed school or medical appointments.

The Nuffield Foundation-funded study calls for: 

• National policy to recognise family poverty as “core business” for child welfare professionals
• Financial hardship to be identified from initial contact with children’s social care
• Social care teams to be trained to identify financial hardship and refer to specialist advice
• Training for practitioners to hold sensitive, respectful conversations about family finances

Keith Clements, senior researcher at the National Children’s Bureau, said: “During the course of this study, the social care professionals we spoke to described being powerless to support families at an early stage where addressing their financial needs might make a difference in preventing their problems from escalating. 

“This clearly needs to change. But it must be done in a way that recognises the considerable stigma, judgement, and discomfort that parents feel when quizzed about their income by social care staff.” 

Earlier this year the government launched a Crisis and Resilience Fund to provide faster emergency support for households in hardship.

Corresponding research by the Social Workers Union found two-thirds of social workers used their own money to support people.

Three-quarters of them were unable to claim back the cost they incurred.