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Overall referrals to the Reporter fall, but compulsory measures increase
Thursday 29 October 2009
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) today (Thursday) announced that more children are requiring compulsory measures of intervention, with a rise in the number of children on Supervision and the number of children with Child Protection Orders.
Yet, SCRA’s Annual Report 2008/09, which is published today, reveals that the overall number of children being referred to the Reporter continues to fall.
Following the highest ever number of referrals to the Children’s Reporter in 2006/07, there has been a reduction for the second year running in the number of children referred – down 18.6% on offence grounds and 2.7% on care and protection grounds.
The number of children referred in 2008/09 was 47,178, compared to 50,314 children in 2007/08. Despite this reduction, this is still 5.2% of the Scottish child population.
The decrease is seen partly as the result of partner agencies working together to implement new measures, such as pre-referral screening processes, which are aimed at making sure only children who may be in need of compulsory measures of intervention are referred to the Reporter in line with the purpose of the Children’s Hearings System.
The vast majority of children were referred for their own care and protection (39,105 children); with the most common ground for referral being that the child was a ‘victim of a Schedule 1 offence’ (18,621 children) including cruelty, sexual offences, bodily injury and indecent behaviour against children (a decrease of 3.1% compared to 2007/08). The second most common ground for referral was ‘lack of parental care’ (15,320 children – an increase of 1.2% compared to the previous year).
Despite the decrease in the overall number of children referred, the number of children on Supervision Requirements (compulsory measures) increased again this year (from 13,219 children in 2007/08 to 13,523 in 2008/09), as well as the number of Children’s Hearings held (up from 42,302 Hearings in 2007/08 to 42,866 in 2008/09). These are the highest numbers since the Children’s Hearings System began.
In addition, there was an increase in the number of children with Child Protection Orders – from 504 in 2007/08 to 661 in 2008/09. Of the 661 children with CPO referrals to Children’s Hearings in 2008/09, over 40% (269 children) were aged under two years.
Douglas Bulloch, SCRA’s Chair said: “For the second year, we have seen a fall in the number of children referred – down by 18.6% on offence grounds and 2.7% on care and protection grounds. The changes in referral practice among partners including pre-referral screening arrangements and Getting it Right are having an impact.
“The Children’s Hearings System had become overloaded in recent years, and we are seeing real progress in returning to a more appropriate scale of activity, though the levels across Scotland continue to vary.”
Commenting on the increase in numbers of children requiring compulsory measures, Douglas Bulloch said: “Once again we have seen a rise in the number of children with Supervision Requirements and Child Protection Orders. It remains a concern that such large numbers of our children and young people require this intervention in their lives.”
Netta Maciver, SCRA’s Principal Reporter/Chief Executive, said: “We are seeing a greater number of very young children referred to the Reporter and we are also seeing a greater complexity in the lives and circumstances of children and young people coming to our attention.
“There are still children in Scotland facing very difficult situations on a daily basis. They may be living in chaotic households with parents who struggle with alcohol or drugs, or they may be experiencing abuse or neglect. These are the children who need to be identified as soon as possible to ensure they receive the most effective intervention.”
To access PDF copies of the Annual Report, Statistical Analysis and Annual Accounts, please click on the links below.
Yet, SCRA’s Annual Report 2008/09, which is published today, reveals that the overall number of children being referred to the Reporter continues to fall.
Following the highest ever number of referrals to the Children’s Reporter in 2006/07, there has been a reduction for the second year running in the number of children referred – down 18.6% on offence grounds and 2.7% on care and protection grounds.
The number of children referred in 2008/09 was 47,178, compared to 50,314 children in 2007/08. Despite this reduction, this is still 5.2% of the Scottish child population.
The decrease is seen partly as the result of partner agencies working together to implement new measures, such as pre-referral screening processes, which are aimed at making sure only children who may be in need of compulsory measures of intervention are referred to the Reporter in line with the purpose of the Children’s Hearings System.
The vast majority of children were referred for their own care and protection (39,105 children); with the most common ground for referral being that the child was a ‘victim of a Schedule 1 offence’ (18,621 children) including cruelty, sexual offences, bodily injury and indecent behaviour against children (a decrease of 3.1% compared to 2007/08). The second most common ground for referral was ‘lack of parental care’ (15,320 children – an increase of 1.2% compared to the previous year).
Despite the decrease in the overall number of children referred, the number of children on Supervision Requirements (compulsory measures) increased again this year (from 13,219 children in 2007/08 to 13,523 in 2008/09), as well as the number of Children’s Hearings held (up from 42,302 Hearings in 2007/08 to 42,866 in 2008/09). These are the highest numbers since the Children’s Hearings System began.
In addition, there was an increase in the number of children with Child Protection Orders – from 504 in 2007/08 to 661 in 2008/09. Of the 661 children with CPO referrals to Children’s Hearings in 2008/09, over 40% (269 children) were aged under two years.
Douglas Bulloch, SCRA’s Chair said: “For the second year, we have seen a fall in the number of children referred – down by 18.6% on offence grounds and 2.7% on care and protection grounds. The changes in referral practice among partners including pre-referral screening arrangements and Getting it Right are having an impact.
“The Children’s Hearings System had become overloaded in recent years, and we are seeing real progress in returning to a more appropriate scale of activity, though the levels across Scotland continue to vary.”
Commenting on the increase in numbers of children requiring compulsory measures, Douglas Bulloch said: “Once again we have seen a rise in the number of children with Supervision Requirements and Child Protection Orders. It remains a concern that such large numbers of our children and young people require this intervention in their lives.”
Netta Maciver, SCRA’s Principal Reporter/Chief Executive, said: “We are seeing a greater number of very young children referred to the Reporter and we are also seeing a greater complexity in the lives and circumstances of children and young people coming to our attention.
“There are still children in Scotland facing very difficult situations on a daily basis. They may be living in chaotic households with parents who struggle with alcohol or drugs, or they may be experiencing abuse or neglect. These are the children who need to be identified as soon as possible to ensure they receive the most effective intervention.”
To access PDF copies of the Annual Report, Statistical Analysis and Annual Accounts, please click on the links below.
