Care applications rise

The number of court applications to take children into care increased by 34 per cent in 2009-10 compared to the previous year, according to new figures.

The statistics published by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) - the organisation that looks after vulnerable children’s interests in the family courts- show there were 832 care applications in March 2010, the highest care demand figure ever recorded for a single month since Cafcass began collecting this data. Comparing the whole of 2009-10 to last year’s figures, care demand was up by 34 per cent (2188 cases).

Anthony Douglas, Cafcass chief executive said, “I fully support the actions that local authorities are taking to protect these children, most of whom have complex long-term needs and for whom there are no easy options or solutions, either at home or in the care system.”

He went on to say, "There is no doubt though that the sustained increase in care cases has placed all of us working in the care system under pressure. However, where agencies are working together collaboratively, as outlined in the renewed President’s Interim Guidance, we have found that backlogs in cases have fallen and we are providing a more timely service to vulnerable children.”

CAFCASS said it had also seen a 16 per cent rise in the number of divorce and separation cases it was involved with between 2008-9 and 2009-10.