Publication of ‘Children’s Social Care Statistics for Northern Ireland 2020/21’

Date published: 11 November 2021

Key Facts and Figures:

Children in Need

• At 31 March 2021, 23,095 children in Northern Ireland were known to Social Services as a child in need;
• Some 32,070 children were referred to Social Services during 2020/21, the largest proportion of these children were referred by the Police (39%).

Child Protection Register

• At 31 March 2021, 2,298 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 and accounted for over three quarters of all on the register (73%);
• A total of 1,921 child protection referrals were received by HSC Trusts;
• There were 2,065 new registrations to the Child Protection Register and 2,095 de- registrations during the year.

Children in care

• At 31 March 2021, 3,530 children and young people were in care in Northern Ireland. This was the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995;
• Some 21% of the children in care had been looked after for less than a year, with 31% looked after for five years or longer;
• Just over four fifths of the children in care were in foster care placements (81%), 9% placed with parents, 6% in residential care and 4% in other placements. This was similar to previous years;
• During 2020/21 there were 893 admissions to care and 726 discharges.

Children’s day care

• At 31 March 2021 there were 3,809 individuals/facilities registered as day care provision for children aged 12 and under in Northern Ireland. This was a 4% decrease on the previous year;
• Similar to the previous year, childminders made up the largest number of day care providers followed by playgroups;

At 31 March 2021 there were 59,618 registered places for day care in Northern Ireland representing a decrease of 3% on the previous year.