A new report has revealed that that there the number of local children being placed on the Child Protection Register has increased by almost 50 per cent over the last six months.
The figures were included in the Western Trust Corporate Parenting Report, which showed the number of children on the Child Protection Register has increased within the last six months by 45 per cent, with 421 local children currently on the register.
The figure stood at 359 at March 31, 2017, which means that another 62 children have been placed on the register since then.
The report also showed that that there are presently 610 children/young people were being ‘looked after’ by the Trust - the highest figure ever recorded by the Trust.
This represents an increase of over 50 per cent since March 2011.
There are also currently 5,052 ‘children in need’ on the Trust's social work caseloads.
The report was presented by Kieran Downey, Western Trust Director of Women and Children’s Services at the January 2018 Trust Board meeting.
He said: “The Western Trust ensures that every day the needs of children and young people in our care are attended to whether the child is in foster care or residential care.
“Despite our best efforts the number of children for which we are now taking parental responsibility for, is at an all-time high. There are many reasons for this including: family illness, family breakdown and problems at home, or a situation where their welfare is threatened.”
Kieran Downey concluded: “The Trust takes very seriously its responsibility as a corporate parent and makes every effort to ensure we do the best we can for the most vulnerable children living in the Western Trust area.”
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