Poor mental health and sexual/criminal exploitation increasing factors in child assessments

A rise in child mental health problems, extra-familial harm and poor parental mental health has been revealed in an analysis of 3.6 million children’s social care assessments in England.

Researchers from Kingston University and the National Children’s Bureau identified 12 common ‘categories of demand’.

The two-year quantitative study revealed an increasingly complex picture of demand for children’s social care services between 2014 and 2021, with a disproportionate rise in mental health issues in both children and parents, and extra-familial harm.

The team categorised social care assessments and linked them to social care and education outcomes.

The findings reveal an evidence-based picture of the changing nature of social care support and interventions for children and families over the seven year period.

The report found:

• Single-factor domestic abuse and violence was found to be the most prevalent category of demand, accounting for a fifth of all cases
• Parental mental health in combination with alcohol or drug misuse was the second most prevalent form of demand
• The proportion of children assessed with multiple risk factors increased, with a disproportionate rise in those affected by child mental health problems, extra-familial harm, and complexities around parental mental health
• Average rates of re-referral were 30 per cent in a 12 month period and 59 per cent over six years. Children in more complex categories of demand were more likely to be re-referred and to have a repeat child protection plan
• Children in the ‘risks outside the home’ category were more likely to be older, male and/or Black, in care and less likely to have a child protection plan 
• Children at risk of domestic violence and abuse were more likely to have a child protection plan if assessed with other risk factors, particularly neglect
• Children with a single risk factor of physical or sexual abuse were less likely to have a re-referral, repeat child protection plan or re-entry to care, and tended to have better educational outcomes
• Outcomes for neglect cases, especially for older children on child protection plans, tended to be worse than for other types of demand

The researchers warn: “Our findings reflect increasing levels of concern about adolescent mental health, complex safeguarding cases, and extra familial harm. 

“Children whose needs were categorised as ‘risks in and outside the home’ and ‘risks outside the home’ consistently fared worse on almost every outcome in this study, whether this was measured as repeat involvement with services, educational attainment at Key Stage 2 (KS2) and Key Stage 4 (KS4), or exclusion from school. 

“The findings suggest that services may be more inclined to view some children and young people through the lens of anti-social activity and gang involvement, while others receive a more holistic needs assessment that includes vulnerabilities to do with their family life. In this respect, we found evidence of inequalities around gender, race and ethnicity, particularly in relation to Black children.”

The researchers also warn that because of a lack of sufficient resources “many children will not receive the right kind of help early enough and will return into the system when they are older and their problems are more entrenched”.

They recommend local authorities in England carry out their own demand analysis using tools available on the project website 

The report also calls for:

• More investment in youth services and child and adolescent mental health services 
• Better training for practitioners in complex links between social and economic circumstances and racial and ethnic disparities in assessment
• Policies to improve the circumstances of families and a refocus of services on prevention and family help