Publication of ‘Children’s Social Care Statistics for NI 2015/16’

Date published: 13 October 2016

Key Facts and Figures:

Children in Need

• At 31 March 2016, 24,698 children were known to Social Services as a child in need;
• Some 34,124 children were referred to Social Services during 2015/16, the largest proportion of referrals were received from the police (26%) followed by Social Services (21%);

Child Protection

• At 31 March 2016, 2,146 children were listed on the Child Protection Register;
• Neglect and physical abuse were the main reasons for a child being on the Child Protection Register;
• A total of 4,279 child protection referrals were received by HSC Trusts, a 6% increase on the previous year;
• There were 2,040 new registrations to the Child Protection Register and 1,861 de- registrations during the year.

Looked After Children

• At 31 March 2016, 2,890 children were looked after in the north of Ireland. This was the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;
• The majority of looked after children had been looked after for less than three years, with just under a tenth looked after for 10 years or longer;
• Three quarters of the looked after children were in foster care placements (77%), 13% placed with parents, 6% in residential care and 4% in other placements. This was similar to previous years;
• During 2015/16, there were 836 admissions to care and 809 discharges.

Children’s Residential Homes

• At 30 June 2016, there were 45 Children’s Residential Homes in the north of Ireland, 41 were statutory and four were independent;

Day Care

• At 31 March 2016, there were 4,691 individuals/facilities registered as day care provision for children aged 12 and under in the north of Ireland. This was a 2% increase on the previous year;
• Similar to the previous years, the majority of day care provision was provided by childminders followed by, in descending order, day nurseries, playgroups, out of school clubs and other organisations; and
• At 31 March 2016, there were 57,393 registered places for day care in the north of Ireland representing an increase of 4% on the previous year.