On 12 December 2024 the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published its ‘Independent annual report for serious child safeguarding incidents, 2023 to 2024’.
They note:
“This is the fifth annual report from the independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
It looks at the child safeguarding system, based on serious child safeguarding incidents occurring between April 2023 and March 2024.
It highlights key themes and patterns in practice for national government and local safeguarding partners to improve the protection of vulnerable children”.
Looking at the data they note:
- “This year, there were 330 SINs and rapid reviews submitted for serious incidents occurring between April 2023 and March 2024 where abuse and/or neglect was known or suspected. This represents a decrease of 72 SINs from the previous year, primarily due to a reduction in serious harm incidents notified to the Panel. The average number of SINs per month decreased from 33.5 in 2022 to 2023 to 27.5 this year. Almost half of the incidents were due to the death of a child, and almost half were due to serious harm…
- The age distribution of children was very similar to last year, with under 1s still experiencing the most harm, representing over a third of all incidents. However, this year, children aged 16 to 17 made up the second largest age group, overtaking the 11-to-15-year age group, which has been the second largest group for the last few years.
- There continues to be a fairly even split between boys (55%) and girls (45%), with observed variation when accounting for age.
- As identified last year, compared to the child population in England, children with a mixed/multiple ethnic background and Black/African/Caribbean/Black British children were over-represented in the reviews, while children from Asian/Asian British ethnicities or other ethnic groups were under-represented. We have observed variation when looking at ethnicity and age together.
- Unexplained Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy or Childhood (SUDI/SUDC) was the most common likely cause of death (23%), followed by suicide (16%). Girls experienced higher rates of suicide than boys (21% versus 12%). Extrafamilial child homicide and extrafamilial fatal assaults were the most likely causes of deaths of boys (21%) compared to just one girl.
- Overall, the most common cause of serious harm was intrafamilial non-fatal assault with (30%), followed by non-fatal neglect (14%). Girls were more likely to suffer both intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse combined than boys (32% versus 4%). However, boys experienced double the rate of both intrafamilial and extrafamilial non-fatal assaults compared to girls (54% versus 27%).
- In almost 9 out of 10 incidents, the family of the child in focus was known to children’s social care (CSC), either as an open case or was previously known to CSC, similar to 2022 to 2023. Just over a quarter of children were either on, or had previously been on, a child protection plan. Around a sixth of children were classed as ‘looked after’ either at the time of the incident or previously, and 21% were subject to care orders or care proceedings.
- Over a fifth of children were recorded as having a mental health condition, either diagnosed or undiagnosed. In the 20 reviews where the diagnosed mental health condition was thought to be linked to the incident, 70% of children died, all of whom completed suicide.
- Notably, in a quarter of incidents, at least one parent or relevant adult was reported to have either a physical, mental health-related, learning or developmental disability, a substantial increase from the previous year. In just over half of the incidents, at least one parent was reported to have one or more mental health conditions, and in 43% of reviews, there was a parent with an addiction to or misuse of alcohol and/or substances”.
Alongside their Report however the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel issued a Press Release stating the “‘Mission-led’ government must centre vulnerable children”.
They wrote:
“The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is calling on the government to ensure that children at risk of being harmed, both inside and outside their families, are at the heart of its strategies to break down barriers to opportunity. This comes as the Panel’s latest annual report reveals that 485 children were affected by serious child safeguarding incidents between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. This is when a child dies or is seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected.
The recently announced reforms in the government’s paper ‘Keeping children safe, helping families thrive’ are an important step in the right direction, with plans to implement the Panel’s recommendation for multi-agency child protection teams in every local authority. As the proposal for local multi-agency child protection teams shows, safeguarding children involves many different agencies from across policing, healthcare, education and others. Therefore, it is imperative that the mission-led approach now being promoted across government is carefully connected so different departments work together at a national level.
The Annual Report 2023 to 2024 highlighted 3 specific themes, which reinforce the importance of join-up between different government departments.
Safeguarding children with mental health needs
Over a fifth of children were recorded as having a mental health condition, either diagnosed or undiagnosed. The overwhelming majority of these children were aged 11 to 17, with the youngest being just 6. Distressingly, 92% of all children who died by suicide were recorded as having a mental health condition.
As part of the government’s ‘opportunities’ mission, it is vital that the Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England and other relevant bodies, including local commissioners, work with the Department for Education to ensure there is sufficient and appropriate mental health support available for vulnerable children.
Safeguarding pre-school children with parents with mental health needs
Over half of incidents involving the death or serious harm of a child aged one to 5 involved a parent or relevant adult with a mental health condition. Reviews highlighted that parental mental health was often overlooked as a potential risk factor when considering parents’ capacity to care for their children.
As the new Mental Health Bill progresses through Parliament, the Panel is calling for greater measures for supporting effective partnership working between adult mental health services and children’s services.
Safeguarding children from risks outside the family home
Almost a quarter of serious incidents featured harm perpetrated by adults and peers who were not members of the child’s own family. This includes gang violence, child sexual abuse and child criminal exploitation.
As part of the government’s ‘safer streets’ mission and its commitment to reduce violence against women and girls, there must be joint working between the Home Office and other relevant departments to ensure vulnerable children are not forgotten”.
Panel Chair Annie Hudson said:
“Our Annual Report looks at the distressing and disturbing stories of many children who have been abused or neglected, inside and outside their families. The Annual Report provides data not only about serious incidents, but also and as importantly, it analyses and reflects on patterns in multi-agency safeguarding practice. This analysis can help us understand what improvements in policy and practice are needed to help keep children safe in the future.
One of the repeated lessons from analysis of serious incidents, including where children have died because of abuse and neglect, is that agencies must continue to enhance how they work together. Only when teachers, doctors, social workers, nurses, police and other professionals share information together is it possible to understand what is happening in a child’s life and make the timely and sensitive decisions that may be necessary.
So, too, different government departments must work together to provide strong national leadership. Safeguarding children involves many different government departments, yet, too often, competing priorities get in the way of what’s really needed for children and families. As the government proceeds with its ‘mission-led’ approach, we would urge them to connect the dots and ensure strong join-up to help keep children safe.”
The Practice Panel Release can be accessed here.
The full Report can be accessed here.
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Press Release can be accessed here.
Original reporting by Family Law Week