Children’s Social Work Statistics 2022-23 - Child Protection

Child Protection Statistics for Scotland for 2022 to 2023 that cover data on children subject to child protection processes.


Child Protection Register

On 31 July 2023, 2,094 children were on the Child Protection Register. This is a 4% increase since 2022 (2,019) and a 21% decrease since 2013 (2,645; Chart 1). The latest 2023 figure for the number of children on the Child Protection Register is similar to what it was back in 2000 (2,049) and 2001 (2,001).

Chart 1 Children on the Child Protection Register

Number of children on the Child Protection Register by age, 2000-2023 [Note 1]

This line graph compares the number of children on the Child Protection Register by age over time between 2000 and 2023. Although patterns fluctuate from year to year, broadly, this graph shows that in 2023: • the total number of children on the Register increased since 2022, peaking in 2014 and at its lowest in 2001.  • the number of children on the Register under the age of 5 increased since 2022, peaking in 2014 and at its lowest in 2001. • the number of children on the Register aged 5 and over increased since 2022, peaking in 2014 and at its lowest in 2021.

[Note 1] Prior to 2011 figures are as at 31st March. From 2011 onwards figures are as at 31st July.

Characteristics of children

Of those on the Child Protection Register on 31 July 2023, 47% were male, 48% were female, and 5% of children were not yet born (Table 1.1). The proportion of children on the Register under the age of 5 years was 47%, down from 48% in 2022 and from 55% in 2013. The proportion of children on the Register in 2023 aged 5 years and over was 53%, up from 52% in 2022 and 45% in 2013. The number of children on the Child Protection Register by ethnic group, disability status, and religion is available in Additional Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Characteristics of children on the Child Protection Register

Number and percentage of children on the Child Protection Register by sex and age on 31 July, 2013-2023 [Note 1]

Category

Subcategory

2013
Number

2013
Percentage

2022
Number

2022
Percentage

2023
Number

2023
Percentage

Sex

Male

1,299

49%

997

49%

983

47%

Sex

Female

1,220

46%

920

46%

1,004

48%

Sex

Unborn [2]

125

5%

102

5%

103

5%

Sex

Unknowns

1

0%

0

0%

4

0%

Age

Unborn

125

5%

102

5%

103

5%

Age

0-4

1,333

50%

874

43%

887

42%

Age

5-10

806

30%

672

33%

672

32%

Age

11-15

357

13%

350

17%

412

20%

Age

16+

23

1%

21

1%

19

1%

Age

Unknown

1

0%

0

0%

1

0%

Total

Total

2,645

100%

2,019

100%

2,094

100%

[Note 1] Some totals may not exactly equal the sum of their parts due to the effects of rounding.

[Note 2] Unborn children with both a known and unknown sex.

Local authority comparisons

On 31 July 2023, Scotland’s rate per 1,000 children (0-15 years) on the Child Protection Register was 2.3. This is a slight increase since 2022 (2.2 per 1,000) and a notable reduction since 2013 (2.9 per 1,000). In 2023, the rate of children on the Register ranged between 0.5 per 1,000 in East Renfrewshire to 4.9 per 1,000 in Shetland Islands. Comparing to 2013 figures, the greatest decreases in the rate of children on the Register were observed in Angus, City of Edinburgh, and Na h-Eileanan Siar. Meanwhile, the greatest increases in the rate of children on the Register were observed in Shetland Islands, West Dunbartonshire, and Highland (Table 1.2).

Table 1.2 Local authority comparisons

Number and rate per 1,000 children on the Register by local authority on 31 July, 2013-2023 [Note 1], [Note 2]

Local authority

2013
Number

2013
Rate

2022
Number

2022
Rate

2023
Number

2023
Rate

Aberdeen City

92

2.9

115

3.2

112

3.1

Aberdeenshire

52

1.1

89

1.8

99

2.0

Angus

94

4.7

59

3.2

34

1.8

Argyll and Bute

16

1.1

21

1.7

29

2.3

City of Edinburgh

262

3.6

104

1.3

90

1.1

Clackmannanshire

32

3.4

12

1.4

15

1.7

Dumfries and Galloway

78

3.1

40

1.7

48

2.1

Dundee City

46

1.9

61

2.6

42

1.8

East Ayrshire

61

2.8

74

3.6

77

3.7

East Dunbartonshire

43

2.3

35

1.8

31

1.6

East Lothian

49

2.6

40

2.0

38

1.9

East Renfrewshire

26

1.5

9

0.5

10

0.5

Falkirk

70

2.5

75

2.7

82

3.0

Fife

213

3.3

136

2.1

97

1.5

Glasgow City

431

4.5

270

2.7

315

3.2

Highland

80

1.9

93

2.4

127

3.3

Inverclyde

24

1.8

44

3.6

36

3.0

Midlothian

59

3.8

24

1.3

67

3.7

Moray

64

3.8

50

3.1

32

2.0

Na h-Eileanan Siar

14

3.0

11

2.7

3

0.7

North Ayrshire

92

3.8

93

4.2

78

3.6

North Lanarkshire

96

1.5

84

1.4

89

1.4

Orkney Islands

10

2.8

2

0.6

9

2.5

Perth and Kinross

49

2.0

51

2.1

49

2.0

Renfrewshire

109

3.6

78

2.6

84

2.8

Scottish Borders

25

1.3

43

2.3

42

2.2

Shetland Islands

3

0.7

14

3.4

20

4.9

South Ayrshire

49

2.7

22

1.3

43

2.5

South Lanarkshire

198

3.6

106

1.9

106

1.9

Stirling

57

3.6

31

2.1

40

2.7

West Dunbartonshire

32

2.0

41

2.7

58

3.8

West Lothian

119

3.4

92

2.6

92

2.6

Scotland

2,645

2.9

2,019

2.2

2,094

2.3

[Note 1] Rate per 1,000 children for 2022 and 2023 is calculated using NRS mid 2021 population estimates (0-15 years). Rates may vary slightly from previous publications due to updated mid-year population estimates.

[Note 2] The rate shown in this table includes unborn children who are on the Register.

Child Protection Investigations, Case Conferences, and Registrations

A Child Protection Investigation refers to a joint investigation between social work, police and health services (as well as any other relevant agencies). The purpose of the Investigation is to determine whether any child protection action is required and whether a Case Conference should be held. During 2022-23, 12,077 Investigations were conducted in Scotland (rate of 13.2 per 1,000 children 0-15 years; Table 1.3a). This is up from 11,534 Investigations conducted during 2021-22 (12.7 per 1,000; Table 1.3b in supporting publication tables). During 2022-23, the rate of Investigations ranged between 3.0 per 1,000 in East Renfrewshire and 32.7 per 1,000 in the Shetland Islands (Table 1.3a).

A Case Conference is an inter-agency meeting convened when there are concerns that a child is or may be at risk of significant harm. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure relevant information is shared to carry out a collective assessment of risk, and to agree a plan to minimize risk of harm to the child. The Case Conference must decide whether the child is at risk of significant harm and requires a coordinated, multi-disciplinary Child Protection Plan. The purpose of the Case Conference is to support engagement of parents and all relevant agencies in assessment of risks and strengths, and in planning next steps which includes potential referral to the Reporter. There are four types of Case Conferences: (1) Initial, (2) Pre-birth, (3) Review, and (4) Transfer. Further information on the types of case conferences and who they are for is available in the background notes.

During 2022-23, 4,120 initial and pre-birth Case Conferences were held (4.5 per 1,000). This is a slight increase from 4,078 Case Conferences held during 2021-22 (4.5 per 1,000; Table 1.3b in supporting publication tables). During 2022-23, the rate of initial and pre-birth Case Conferences ranged between 1.4 per 1,000 in East Renfrewshire and 9.8 per 1,000 in North Ayrshire (Table 1.3a).

If there are reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that a child has suffered, or will suffer, significant harm from abuse or neglect, and that a Child Protection Plan is needed to protect and support the child, the child will be placed on the Register. From the 4,120 initial and pre-birth Case Conferences held during 2022-23, 3,170 registrations took place (3.5 per 1,000). This reflects a conversion rate from Case Conference to Registrations of around 77% (down from 79% in 2021-22). The rate of registrations from initial and pre-birth Case Conferences ranged between 0.8 per 1,000 in the East Renfrewshire and 7.6 per 1,000 in North Ayrshire (Table 1.3a).

Table 1.3a Child Protection Investigations, Case Conferences, and Registrations

Number and rate per 1,000 children of Child Protection Investigations, initial and pre-birth Case Conferences, and associated Registrations by local authority, 2022-23 [Note 1], [Note 2], [Note 3]

Local authority

Investigations Number

Investigations Rate

Initial and pre-birth Case Conferences  Number

Initial and pre-birth Case Conferences  Rate

Aberdeen City

616

17.2

157

4.4

Aberdeenshire

398

8.2

132

2.7

Angus

269

14.4

93

5.0

Argyll and Bute

151

12.1

54

4.3

City of Edinburgh

1,156

14.7

180

2.3

Clackmannanshire

143

16.1

71

8.0

Dumfries and Galloway

270

11.8

120

5.2

Dundee City

563

23.8

123

5.2

East Ayrshire

319

15.3

134

6.4

East Dunbartonshire

158

8.1

96

4.9

East Lothian

346

17.5

44

2.2

East Renfrewshire

60

3.0

27

1.4

Falkirk

433

15.7

154

5.6

Fife

369

5.8

209

3.3

Glasgow City

804

8.0

480

4.8

Highland

393

10.3

172

4.5

Inverclyde

120

9.8

52

4.3

Midlothian

504

27.6

113

6.2

Moray

437

27.4

59

3.7

Na h-Eileanan Siar

42

10.3

7

1.7

North Ayrshire

410

18.7

214

9.8

North Lanarkshire

746

12.1

252

4.1

Orkney Islands

72

20.3

11

3.1

Perth and Kinross

333

13.8

91

3.8

Renfrewshire

355

11.9

196

6.6

Scottish Borders

491

26.2

72

3.8

Shetland Islands

134

32.7

25

6.1

South Ayrshire

123

7.1

63

3.7

South Lanarkshire

725

13.0

311

5.6

Stirling

50

3.3

78

5.2

West Dunbartonshire

225

14.8

103

6.8

West Lothian

862

24.5

227

6.5

Scotland

12,077

13.2

4,120

4.5

Table 1.3a Continued

Local authority

Number of initial and pre-birth Case Conferences with an investigation recorded within 90 days of Case Conference

Number of initial and pre-birth Case Conferences without an investigation recorded within 90 days of Case Conference

Registrations from initial and pre-birth Case Conferences
Number

Registrations from initial and pre-birth Case Conferences
Rate

Aberdeen City

148

9

146

4.1

Aberdeenshire

104

28

112

2.3

Angus

10

83

84

4.5

Argyll and Bute

35

19

51

4.1

City of Edinburgh

136

44

151

1.9

Clackmannanshire

51

20

53

6.0

Dumfries and Galloway

111

9

78

3.4

Dundee City

108

15

91

3.8

East Ayrshire

133

1

98

4.7

East Dunbartonshire

26

70

45

2.3

East Lothian

41

3

37

1.9

East Renfrewshire

26

1

16

0.8

Falkirk

33

121

105

3.8

Fife

202

7

179

2.8

Glasgow City

478

2

345

3.5

Highland

4

168

160

4.2

Inverclyde

49

3

39

3.2

Midlothian

113

0

101

5.5

Moray

33

26

37

2.3

Na h-Eileanan Siar

5

2

5

1.2

North Ayrshire

214

0

166

7.6

North Lanarkshire

248

4

208

3.4

Orkney Islands

8

3

11

3.1

Perth and Kinross

85

6

81

3.3

Renfrewshire

187

9

131

4.4

Scottish Borders

69

3

67

3.6

Shetland Islands

23

2

23

5.6

South Ayrshire

63

0

55

3.2

South Lanarkshire

252

59

201

3.6

Stirling

4

74

71

4.7

West Dunbartonshire

93

10

76

5.0

West Lothian

160

67

147

4.2

Scotland

3,252

868

3,170

3.5

Table 1.3a continued

Local authority


Number of registrations with an investigation recorded within 90 days of Conference


Number of registrations with no investigation recorded within 90 days of Conference

Aberdeen City

137

9

Aberdeenshire

87

25

Angus

9

75

Argyll and Bute

35

16

City of Edinburgh

112

39

Clackmannanshire

41

12

Dumfries and Galloway

75

3

Dundee City

81

10

East Ayrshire

97

1

East Dunbartonshire

13

32

East Lothian

34

3

East Renfrewshire

15

1

Falkirk

27

78

Fife

173

6

Glasgow City

343

2

Highland

3

157

Inverclyde

37

2

Midlothian

101

0

Moray

18

19

Na h-Eileanan Siar

4

1

North Ayrshire

166

0

North Lanarkshire

204

4

Orkney Islands

8

3

Perth and Kinross

75

6

Renfrewshire

125

6

Scottish Borders

64

3

Shetland Islands

21

2

South Ayrshire

55

0

South Lanarkshire

165

36

Stirling

4

67

West Dunbartonshire

68

8

West Lothian

99

48

Scotland

2,496

674

[Note 1] Rate per 1,000 children is calculated using NRS mid 2021 population estimates (0-15 years).

[Note 2] The rate shown in this table includes unborn children who are on the Register.

[Note 3] Case Conferences with no investigation recorded within 90 days are cases where no investigation was recorded in the data provided to Scottish Government in the 90 days preceding the Case Conference.

Concerns identified at Child Protection Case Conferences of children registered during the year

In total, 8,462 concerns were identified at Case Conferences of all children who were registered during 2022-23. Of these, the most common concerns were: domestic abuse (16%), neglect (15%), parental mental health problems (15%), parental substance misuse (15%), and emotional abuse (12%; Chart 2). This is a similar pattern of findings as observed in 2021-22. The number of concerns identified for children on the Child Protection Register on 31 July 2023 is available in Additional Table 1.2.

The number of concerns identified at Case Conferences as a proportion of all registrations during the year can be found in Additional Table 1.5. The highest proportion of concerns recorded were: domestic abuse (42%); neglect (40%); parental mental health problems (39%); parental substance misuse (38%) and emotional abuse (33%).

Chart 2 Concerns identified

Number of concerns identified at Case Conferences of children registered during the year, 2022-23 [Note 1]

This bar graph summarises the types of concerns identified at case conferences for children registered onto the Child Protection Register during 2022-23. Of all concerns identified, the order of the most to least common concerns were as follows: domestic abuse, neglect, parental mental health problems, parental substance misuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, non-engaging family, other concerns, sexual abuse, child placing self at risk, and child sexual exploitation.

 

[Note 1] Multiple concerns can be recorded (rather than just the main category of concern). This means that the total number of concerns will be greater than the total number of registrations.

Registrations

During 2022-23, there were 3,231 registrations following an initial, pre-birth, or a transfer-in conference. This is a 2% decrease from 2021-22, and a 24% decrease from 2012-13. Most registrations that took place during 2022-23 (80%) concerned children who had not been registered before, up slightly from 2021-22 (78%) and a decrease from 2012-13 (84%). Of those registered during 2022-23, 19% of registrations were for children who had been registered before (Table 1.4). This is a decrease from 21% in 2021-22, and an increase from 15% in 2012-13. Of the registrations concerning children who had been registered before during 2022-23, the largest proportion (12%) were for children de-registered two years ago or more. This pattern also applies to the older comparator years.

Table 1.4 Time since last de-registration

Number and percentage of registrations during the year following an initial, pre-birth or transfer-in Case Conference by length of time since last de-registration, 2013-2023 [Note 1]

Time since last deregistration

2013
Number

2013 Percentage

2022
Number

2022 Percentage

2023
Number

2023 Percentage

Never been registered before

3,574

84%

2,573

78%

2,598

80%

Registered before but time unknown

1

0%

0

0%

0

0%

Less than 6 months

114

3%

71

2%

47

1%

6 months to under 1 year

88

2%

114

3%

70

2%

1 year to under 18 months

73

2%

77

2%

66

2%

18 months to under 2 years

54

1%

58

2%

61

2%

2 years or more

318

7%

369

11%

378

12%

Unknown whether child was registered before

29

1%

25

1%

11

0%

Total

4,251

100%

3,287

100%

3,231

100%

Percentage of registrations of children who had been registered before [Note 2]

15%

-

21%

-

19%

-

[Note 1] Some totals may not exactly equal the sum of their parts due to the effects of rounding.

[Note 2] This is calculated as a proportion of registrations excluding cases where it is not known if a child had been registered before.

De-registrations

When the practitioners working with the child and family decide that the risk of significant harm to the child has been sufficiently reduced, and the child is no longer in need of a Child Protection Plan, the child will be de-registered from the Register. During 2022-23, 3,153 children were de-registered from the Register (Table 1.5). This is a 6% decrease since 2021-22 and a 25% decrease since 2012-13. As with the other comparator years, the most common reason for de-registrations during 2022-23 was an improved home situation. The majority (84%) of de-registrations were for children on the Register for less than one year. These findings are similar to that observed in 2021-22 and 2012-13.

Table 1.5 Length of time on Register and reason for de-registrations

Number and percentage of de-registrations during the year by length of time on Register and reason for de-registration, 2013-2023 [Note 1]

Category

Subcategory

2013
Number

2013 Percentage

2022
Number

2022 Percentage

2023
Number

2023 Percentage

Length of time registered

Less than 6 months

2,039

48%

1,662

49%

1,520

48%

Length of time registered

6 months to under 1 year

1,568

37%

1,171

35%

1,150

36%

Length of time registered

1 year to under 18 months

405

10%

313

9%

335

11%

Length of time registered

18 months to under 2 years

130

3%

111

3%

95

3%

Length of time registered

2 years or more

57

1%

75

2%

45

1%

Length of time registered

No date of registration information

29

1%

40

1%

8

0%

Reason for de-registration

Child taken into care & risk reduced

617

15%

409

12%

360

11%

Reason for de-registration

Child with other carers

322

8%

197

6%

201

6%

Reason for de-registration

Child died

8

0%

8

0%

5

0%

Reason for de-registration

Removal of perpetrator

123

3%

164

5%

111

4%

Reason for de-registration

Improved home situation

2,136

51%

1,845

55%

1,572

50%

Reason for de-registration

Child automatically de-registered because of age

7

0%

4

0%

6

0%

Reason for de-registration

Child moved away - no continued risk

21

0%

19

1%

23

1%

Reason for de-registration

Other reason

993

23%

726

22%

875

28%

Reason for de-registration

Reason not known [Note 2]

1

0%

0

0%

0

0%

Total

Total

4,228

100%

3,372

100%

3,153

100%

[Note 1] Some totals may not exactly equal the sum of their parts due to the effects of rounding.

[Note 2] Includes where a child transferred to another local authority and where reason has not been recorded.

Although patterns fluctuate year on year, over the last decade the overall pattern remains the same, with the highest proportion of de-registrations relating to children registered for less than 6 months and the lowest proportion of de-registrations relating to those who spent 2 years or more on the Register (Chart 3).

Chart 3 De-registrations by length of time on Register
Percentage of de-registrations during the year by length of time on the Register, 2007-2023 [Note 1]

This line graph compares the percentage of de-registrations by length of time spent on the Child Protection Register between 2007 and 2023. Although these patterns fluctuate from year to year, this graph shows that in 2023 the greatest proportion of children de-registered had been registered for less than six months. The lowest proportion of children de-registered had been registered for 2 years or more. This is a pattern that has stayed stable between 2007 and 2023.

Cross UK Comparisons

On 31 March 2023, Scotland’s rate of children on the Register was 20 per 10,000 children (0-15 years). This is the lowest this figure has been since 2005 (Chart 4). Scotland’s rate of children on the Register is considerably lower than England (43 per 10,000), Wales (47 per 10,000), and Northern Ireland (50 per 10,000). Unlike other UK nations, Scotland has been experiencing a consistent decline in the rate of children on the Child Protection Register since 2019. However, it should be noted that UK nations operate under different legislative frameworks, and as such are not directly comparable.

Chart 4 Cross UK comparisons

Cross UK comparisons of rate per 10,000 of children on the Register 2004-2023 [Note 1], [Note 2], [Note 3], [Note 4]

This line graph compares the rate per 10,000 of children on the Child Protection Register in the four nations in the UK between 2004 and 2023. Although these patterns fluctuate from year to year, this graph shows that since 2007 Scotland continues to have the lowest rate per 10,000 population on the Register. In 2023, the rate of children on the Child Protection Register was highest in Northern Ireland, followed by Wales, England, and Scotland.

[Note 1] Scotland data is as at 31st March for comparability purposes with other UK countries. The exception to this is between 2011 and 2014 where figures were published as at 31 July. Scotland rate per 10,000 for 2022 and 2023 was calculated using NRS mid 2021 population estimates. Rates may vary slightly from previous publications due to updated mid-year population estimates.

[Note 2] England data source from: Characteristics of children in need, Reporting Year 2023

[Note 3] Wales data is based on the latest available 2021-22 source at time of this publication: Children on the child protection register on 31 March per 10,000 population aged under 18 by local authority and year

[Note 4] Northern Ireland Source from: Children's social care statistics for Northern Ireland 2022/23

Contact

Email: childrens.statistics@gov.scot

Back to top