By Charlotte Webster-
A local authority has warned that cuts it is proposing in response to a potential £46 million budget deficit could result in more children on child protection plans and entering care.
East Sussex council has published a report ahead of a 13 November cabinet meeting which sets out the ramifications its scheduled steps in children’s services‘ for the next three years would have on children’s services in the borough. East Sussex children’s services was recently rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Services for families who have had children removed and for young people at risk of criminal exploitation are severely under threat. Some training for social workers would also be stopped under the plans that will propose only the ”bare minimum core offer” from the council
The council’s chief executive Keith Glazier described the core offer as “not the ideal we would wish to be able to provide, but [seeking] to capture what is most appropriate and possible in a time of austerity”.
The bare-bones offer may even be an understatement due to ongoing funding uncertainties. These include a lack of clarity over how the £410 million of extra social care cash announced in last month’s budget will be distributed.
The council may still require to make up to £334m savings. Other counties like Northamptonshire have issued a section 114 notice, signifying an inability to set a sustainable budget.Speculation has mounted as to whether others will follow, with Somerset voting in early-help cuts – prompting fears families could later need expensive interventions – and Nottinghamshire warning of financial problems resulting from children in care placements.
Placement costs were a key area of financial concern highlighted in a report issued this week by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS). The Association mapped the landscape of increasing demand and shrinking resource councils face.
STUDY
The Safeguarding Pressures study of 140 councils, the sixth in a series has also flagged up high numbers of the seriousness of children “tipping over” into statutory social care.
“Interviewees and questionnaire respondents talked about overspends in the millions on 2018/19 budget that were unavoidable,” the report said. “This budget shortfall is current, very real, and is not going away as it is driven by demand-led services which local authorities must fund by law.”
Like Somerset, East Sussex is planning to cut its early help services, with a view to saving more than £1 million.
“A review is underway which will be the subject of consultation,” the cabinet report said. “It is likely to result in working with fewer families and focusing support to those most at risk of social care intervention.”
SAFEGUARDING SERVICES
Cabinet reports also revealed plans to reduce safeguarding services, training social workers to assist in work with children and families.
Other cuts to safeguarding services to be compromised includes the stopping of family group conferences. Outreach services for young people at the risk of criminal exploitation, is also likely to be compromised as a result of the budget cuts in question. The news is disturbing, and calls for provisional measures to counter the risks that accompany more children joining the care system.
Photograph:Talksacademic