Statistics Publication Notice: Health and Care Series: Children Looked After Statistics 2009-10

Contains information on the numbers of looked after children, eligible for aftercare services and on a planned series of short-term placements.


CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER STATISTICS 2009-10

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Children Looked After Statistics 2009-10. This publication contains statistics on children who were looked after by or eligible for aftercare services from local authorities between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010.

The main findings are:

  • At 31 July 2010 there were 15,892 children looked after by local authorities, an increase of 4 per cent since 31 March 2009. The number of children looked after has increased every year since 2001, and is at its highest since 1982. (Table 1.1, Chart 1).
  • Of the 15,892 children looked after on 31 July 2010, 14,999 (94 per cent) of them had a current care plan (Table 1.2).
  • There were 4,859 children who started to be looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010, a decrease of 7 per cent compared with 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. (Table 1.3).
  • There were 4,504 children who ceased being looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010, an increase of 3 per cent compared with 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. (Table 1.4).
  • Fifty one per cent of young people ceasing to be looked after above school leaving age during 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010 had a pathway plan on the date they were discharged, and 69 per cent had a pathway coordinator. (Table 1.5).
  • There were 3,918 young people reported to be eligible for aftercare services on 31 July 2010. Thirty seven per cent of those receiving aftercare and who had a known economic activity were in education, training or employment, an increase of 2 percentage points on 31 March 2009. (Table 1.6).
  • At 31 July 2010 there were 1,757 children being looked after on a current planned series of short term placements. Sixty three per cent of all these were looked after in residential establishments. (Table 1.7).

The following charts are available:

Chart 1: Children looked after per 1,000 of 0-18 population by type of placement, 31 March 1987-2009 and 31 July 2010

The following tables are available:

Table 1.1: Number of children looked after by accommodation, 1971-2010
Table 1.2: Children looked after at 31 July 2010 with and without a current care plan
Table 1.3: Number of children starting to be looked after 2001-2010 by age and gender
Table 1.4: Number of children ceasing to be looked after, by length of time looked after and age, 2001-2010
Table 1.5: Young people ceasing to be looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010 who were beyond minimum school-leaving age on date they ceased to be looked after - with a pathway plan, and with a nominated pathway co-ordinator
Table 1.6: Young people eligible for aftercare services on 31 July 2010, by age and economic activity
Table 1.7: All children with a current planned series of short term placements at 31 July 2010 by type of placement

REVISIONS TO 2008-09 DATA

1. East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and Moray all made some revisions to parts of their 2008-09 looked after and/or their young persons eligible for aftercare services data. These revisions have all been incorporated into these published tables (including the additional tables also available).

2. Revisions to previously published statistics are carried out in accordance with the Scottish Government Corporate Policy Statement on Revisions and Corrections. This statement is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About/NatStats.

Chart 1 and Table 1.1 shows the number of looked after children, and the rate per 1,000 population aged 0-18 years, by type of placement for the years 1987 to 2010.

At 31 July 2010, there were 15,892 children being looked after by local authorities. This represents 14.3 per 1,000 children of the 0-18 year old population. The number of, and rate per 1,000 population aged 0-18 years, has been increasing every year since 2001.

The number of looked after children at 31 July 2010 is at its highest level since 1982.

The number of looked after children by placement type shows that the increase over the past 10 years is due to a general increasing number of children being looked after in community settings ( i.e. at home, with foster carers/prospective adopters, with friends/relatives and other community settings), whereas the number of looked after children for children in residential care, which was on a decline throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, but remained fairly static between the years 2000 to 2007, has started to decline again since 2007.

The number of children being looked after by foster carers/prospective adopters or in other community placements (including with friends/relatives) are at their highest levels on record, whilst the number of children being looked after in residential care is at its lowest level on record.

Chart 1: Children looked after per 1,000 of 0-18 population by type of placement, 31 March 1987-2009 and 31 July 2010

Chart 1: Children looked after per 1,000 of 0-18 population by type of placement, 31 March 1987-2009 and 31 July 2010

Table 1.1: Number of children looked after by accommodation, 1971-2010

Year

Accommodation type

All children looked after

At home

With foster carers or prospective adopters

Other community placement

In residential care

1971

-

-

-

-

14,788

1972

-

-

-

-

19,166

1973

-

-

-

-

20,703

1974

-

-

-

-

20,553

1975

-

-

-

-

18,936

1976

5,883

3,763

1,430

6,242

17,318

1977

5,593

3,733

1,337

6,209

16,872

1978

-

-

-

-

17,107

1979

-

-

-

-

16,887

1980

-

-

-

-

16,845

1981

-

-

-

-

17,045

1982

-

-

-

-

16,084

1983

-

-

-

-

15,529

1984

-

-

-

-

13,783

1985

-

-

-

-

13,261

1986

-

-

-

-

13,319

1987

5,949

2,759

1,025

2,784

12,517

1988

6,064

2,620

939

2,664

12,287

1989

6,262

2,560

851

2,364

12,037

1990

7,128

2,593

928

2,313

12,962

1991

6,625

2,492

1,147

2,401

12,665

1992

6,527

2,746

1,200

2,298

12,771

1993

6,447

2,574

1,221

2,124

12,371

1994

6,335

2,589

1,121

2,083

12,128

1995

6,224

2,605

1,021

2,042

11,891

1996

6,112

2,620

920

2,001

11,653

1997

6,000

2,635

820

1,960

11,415

1998

5,455

2,794

738

1,817

10,804

1999

5,309

3,155

943

1,784

11,191

2000

5,270

3,181

1,274

1,585

11,309

2001

4,842

3,280

1,195

1,582

10,897

2002

4,909

3,328

1,409

1,595

11,241

2003

4,851

3,468

1,518

1,550

11,388

2004

4,982

3,608

1,518

1,567

11,675

2005

5,179

3,660

1,807

1,539

12,185

2006

5,517

3,915

1,912

1,638

12,982

2007

5,986

4,275

2,138

1,661

14,060

2008

6,360

4,480

2,435

1,613

14,888

2009

5,924

4,741

3,042

1,580

15,287

2010

6,193

4,996

3,223

1,480

15,892

Notes: Table excludes planned series of short term placements.
Figures for 2010 are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11.
Figures for 2009 are revised
Prior to 2008, table includes estimates wherever local authorities were not able to provide data.
Young people aged 18-21 are included from 2006 onwards, and figures for 2009 include a small number of over 21yr olds.
Table includes rounded estimates for local authorities not able to provide information in all years up to 2004. For this reason, the total for all children looked after may not exactly equal the sum of its component parts.
For cells shown as "-", figures are not available.
Figures are estimates for 1975, 1994, 1995 and 1996.
"Other community placement" includes "with friends/relatives" as well as "in other community".

Table 1.2 shows the number of children being looked after at 31 July 2010 who had, or did not have, a current care plan.

When children become looked after, a care plan should be produced. The care plan should include detailed information about the child's care, education and health needs, as well as the responsibilities of the local authority, the parents and the child. Other aspects will include details of the child's living arrangements and the involvement (if any) of the child's parents in decisions that may affect the child. The plan should also indicate how long the arrangement is expected to last, how it will come to an end and what will happen at the end. A care plan is considered 'current' if it has been produced or reviewed in the past 12 months.

At 31 July 2010, of the 15,892 children who were being looked after, 14,999 (94 per cent) of them had a current care plan. A slightly higher proportion of children who were being looked after away from home had a current care plan than those who were being looked after at home.

Table 1.2: Children looked after at 31st July 2010 with and without a current care plan

Looked after at home

Looked after away from home

Total

With a current care plan

5,805

9,194

14,999

Without a current care plan

388

505

893

Total

6,193

9,699

15,892

Note: Figures are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11

Table 1.3 shows the number of children who started being looked after between 2000-01 to 2009-10. Please note that a child will be counted more than once if they started being looked after more than once during the reporting year.

There were 4,859 children who started to be looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010. This was a decrease of 7 per cent compared with the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 and is its lowest level since 2005-06.

This decrease was largely as a result of a large fall in the number of children aged 12-15 years of age starting to be looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010 compared with previous years.

The number of children aged under 5 years at the time of starting to be looked after has increased every year since 2004-05.

Table 1.3: Number of children starting to be looked after 2001-2010 by age and gender

Age/gender

Children starting to be looked after in year ending

Percentage of 2010 total

31st March…

31st July

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Male

Under 1

127

139

146

179

218

220

207

280

323

335

13

1-4

444

516

457

483

433

523

593

600

580

596

23

5-11

737

702

783

732

666

748

864

834

830

792

31

12-15

1,220

1,070

1,021

949

949

986

1,043

932

995

816

32

16-17

192

210

163

142

100

140

164

133

33

32

1

18-21

9

7

2

3

0

0

Not known

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

2,720

2,637

2,570

2,485

2,367

2,626

2,878

2,781

2,764

2,571

100

Female

Under 1

107

120

123

187

182

195

205

222

318

315

14

1-4

377

427

393

417

424

470

564

532

558

550

24

5-11

578

583

568

626

589

545

649

703

733

671

29

12-15

782

781

753

750

695

810

835

826

805

739

32

16-17

130

130

108

100

74

79

110

92

22

13

1

18-21

8

4

3

1

0

0

Not known

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

1,974

2,042

1,943

2,079

1,965

2,107

2,367

2,378

2,437

2,288

100

All people

Under 1

234

259

268

366

400

415

412

502

641

650

13

1-4

821

943

850

900

857

993

1,157

1,132

1,138

1,146

24

5-11

1,315

1,285

1,350

1,357

1,255

1,293

1,513

1,537

1,563

1,463

30

12-15

2,002

1,852

1,773

1,699

1,644

1,796

1,878

1,758

1,800

1,555

32

16-17

322

340

271

242

175

219

274

225

55

45

1

18-21

17

11

5

4

0

0

Not known

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

4,694

4,678

4,513

4,564

4,333

4,733

5,245

5,159

5,201

4,859

100

Notes: Table excludes planned series of short term placements.
Figures for 2009-10 are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11.
Falkirk did not provide information on children starting to be looked after in 2007-08.
Figures for 2009 are revised.
Prior to 2008, table includes rounded estimates wherever local authorities were not able to provide information.
Prior to 2005 'unknowns' were allocated to a category rather than being reported as unknown. For this reason, totals do not always exactly equal the sum of their parts, due to rounding.
The number of looked after children aged 18+ was not asked for prior to 2006.
A child may start to be looked after more than once in a year and so may be counted more than once.
Changes between 2003-04 and 2004-05 are partly due to improved recording.
The 18-21 category in this table may include a small number of looked after young people who were over 21yrs
Due to rounding, the percentage totals may not equal the sum of their parts
The number of children starting to be looked after during 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 was 5,191.

Table 1.4 shows the number of children who ceased being looked after between 2000-01 to 2009-10. Please note that a child will be counted more than once if they ceased being looked after more than once during the reporting year.

There were 4,504 children who ceased being looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010. This was an increase of 3 per cent compared with the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

The number of children who had been looked after for 1 year or more at the time of ceasing to be looked after has increased every year since 2004-05, whereas the number of children who had been looked after for less than 1 year at the time of ceasing to be looked after fell for the second consecutive year.

Table 1.4: Number of children ceasing to be looked after, by length of time looked after and age, 2001-2010

Age

Length of time looked after

Children ceasing to be looked after in year ending

Percentage of 2010 totals

31 March…

31 July

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Under 1

Under 6 weeks

27

42

26

72

56

39

55

46

63

52

48

6 weeks to under 6 months

31

25

26

25

28

44

29

33

42

43

39

6 months to under 1 year

20

11

17

9

9

19

13

21

30

14

13

Not known

1

0

0

0

Total

78

78

70

107

93

102

97

101

135

109

100

1-4

Under 6 weeks

76

193

86

167

126

96

87

119

102

86

11

6 weeks to under 6 months

89

90

56

116

56

67

80

119

70

75

10

6 months to under 1 year

158

92

133

120

93

120

136

119

115

132

17

1 year to under 3 years

234

211

244

184

195

235

254

255

395

381

49

3 years to under 5 years

42

49

54

38

26

48

54

66

82

110

14

Not known

16

0

0

0

Total

600

635

573

625

496

566

611

694

764

784

100

5-11

Under 6 weeks

155

229

144

169

145

97

105

141

132

99

9

6 weeks to under 6 months

184

144

92

140

80

86

112

96

68

89

8

6 months to under 1 year

271

146

190

189

161

157

185

173

182

208

19

1 year to under 3 years

390

276

385

269

317

400

351

343

382

401

36

3 years to under 5 years

94

110

143

162

114

162

190

206

212

207

19

5 years and over

30

39

61

51

71

84

86

102

103

106

10

Not known

26

0

0

0

Total

1,124

943

1,015

979

888

986

1,029

1,087

1,079

1,110

100

12-15

Under 6 weeks

200

306

151

182

182

140

130

127

103

102

10

6 weeks to under 6 months

229

213

155

180

143

154

146

149

98

109

10

6 months to under 1 year

349

228

217

215

170

164

204

216

244

221

21

1 year to under 3 years

440

388

430

321

285

336

304

337

379

427

41

3 years to under 5 years

111

91

109

120

86

81

82

134

108

107

10

5 years and over

64

56

40

46

41

65

58

79

84

87

8

Not known

20

0

0

0

Total

1,393

1,281

1,102

1,065

907

940

924

1,062

1,016

1,053

100

16+

Under 6 weeks

48

90

33

50

68

18

21

27

9

3

0

6 weeks to under 6 months

91

84

92

121

83

54

104

107

55

33

2

6 months to under 1 year

280

176

175

179

184

194

267

274

196

189

13

1 year to under 3 years

727

535

613

543

510

553

606

656

562

602

42

3 years to under 5 years

248

236

198

223

169

243

243

247

250

248

17

5 years and over

151

143

163

129

166

229

242

233

328

373

26

Not known

25

0

0

0

Total

1,545

1,264

1,274

1,245

1,180

1,291

1,483

1,569

1,400

1,448

100

TOTAL

Under 6 weeks

506

861

440

640

578

390

398

460

409

342

8

6 weeks to under 6 months

625

556

421

583

390

405

471

504

333

349

8

6 months to under 1 year

1,078

652

732

713

617

654

805

803

767

764

17

1 year to under 3 years

1,791

1,410

1,672

1,317

1,308

1,524

1,515

1,591

1,718

1,811

40

3 years to under 5 years

496

485

504

543

395

534

569

653

652

672

15

5 years and over

245

237

264

225

278

378

386

414

515

566

13

Not known

88

0

0

0

Total

4,740

4,202

4,034

4,021

3,566

3,885

4,144

4,513

4,394

4,504

100

Notes: Table excludes children who are on a planned series of short term placements.
Figures for 2010 are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11.
Fife did not provide information on children ceasing to be looked after in 2007-08. Fife's figures from 2006-07 have been incorporated into this table for 2007-08.
Falkirk did not provide information on length of time looked after for children ceasing to be looked after in 2007-08. The total numbers of children ceasing to be looked after in this local authority for 2007-08 have been included as "not known".
Prior to 2008, table includes estimates wherever local authorities were not able to provide data.
In 2000 to 2004 some totals do not exactly equal the sum of their component parts due to the effects of rounding estimated figures.
A child may cease to be looked after more than once during the year and will be counted once for each episode of care ending.
Some totals do not exactly equal the sum of their component parts due to the effects of rounding.
Figures for 2009 are revised.
The number of children ceasing to be looked after during 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 was 4,625.

Table 1.5 shows the number of children who were beyond their minimum school leaving age on the date they ceased being looked after during 2009-10. Please note that a child will be counted more than once if they ceased being looked after more than once during the reporting year.

Fifty one per cent of young people ceasing to be looked after above their minimum school leaving age during 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010 had a pathway plan on the date they were discharged, and 69 per cent had a pathway coordinator.

If a young person's final placement type was 'at home' then only 43 per cent of them had a pathway plan on the date of discharge, compared with 60 per cent of those whose final placement type was 'away from home'.

Similarly, if a young person's final placement type was 'at home', then only 62 per cent of them had a pathway co-ordinator, compared with 77 per cent of those whose final placement type was 'away from home'.

Table 1.5: Young people ceasing to be looked after during 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010 who were beyond minimum school-leaving age on date they ceased to be looked after - with a pathway plan, and with a nominated pathway co-ordinator

Number

Percentage

Looked after at home

Looked after away from home

Total

Looked after at home

Looked after away from home

Total

With a pathway plan on date of discharge

325

420

745

43

60

51

Without a pathway plan on date of discharge

429

276

705

57

40

49

With a nominated pathway co-ordinator on date of discharge

467

533

1,000

62

77

69

Without a nominated pathway co-ordinator on date of discharge

287

163

450

38

23

31

Total

754

696

1,450

100

100

100

Notes:
Figures are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11.
Figures include all episodes of ceasing to be looked after beyond minimum school leaving age ( i.e. a child may be counted more than once).
The number of children ceasing to be looked after during 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 who were beyond minimum school leaving age on date they ceased to be looked after was 1,451.

Table 1.6 shows the number of young people eligible for aftercare services on 31 July 2010, by age and economic activity.

There were 3,918 young people reported to be eligible for aftercare services on 31 July 2010. Thirty seven per cent of those receiving aftercare and who had a known economic activity were in education, training or employment, an increase of 2 percentage points on 31 March 2009.

The percentage of those young people receiving aftercare with a known economic activity who were in education, training or employment decreased by age of the young person, from 41 per cent for those aged 16 years and under to 34 per cent for those aged 19 and over.

Table 1.6: Young people eligible for aftercare services on 31st July 2010, by age and economic activity

Economic activity on 31 July 2010

Age on 31 July 2010

Total

Percentage of all young people eligible for aftercare

Percentage of young people receiving aftercare with known economic activity

15-16

17

18

19-21

In education, training or employment

In higher education

16

29

23

35

103

3

5

In education other than HE

46

59

54

55

214

5

10

In training or employment

52

103

149

151

455

12

22

Not in education, training or employment

- due to short term illness

6

*

*

13

29

1

1

- due to long term illness or disability

10

*

*

30

61

2

3

- due to looking after family

14

15

52

69

150

4

7

- due to other circumstances

133

253

315

362

1,063

27

51

Not known

67

86

123

193

469

12

Not receiving aftercare

273

455

494

152

1,374

35

Total

617

1,018

1,223

1,060

3,918

100

100

Percentage in employment, education or training

As percentage of all young people eligible for aftercare

18

19

18

23

20

As percentage of young people receiving aftercare with known economic activity

41

40

37

34

37

Notes:
Figures are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11.
Cells containing * represent numbers that are suppressed to maintain confidentiality.
Due to rounding, the totals for percentages may not equal the sum of their parts

Table 1.7 shows the number of children on a current planned series of short-term placements on 31 July 2010, by type of placement.

At 31 July 2010 there were 1,757 children being looked after on a current planned series of short term placements. Sixty three per cent of all these were looked after in residential establishments and 30 per cent were in foster placements.

Table 1.7: All children with a current planned series of short term placements at 31st July 2010 by type of placement

Type of placement

Number of children

Percentage

Residential establishment

1,115

63

Hospital

8

0

Foster placement

529

30

Other placement

105

6

Total

1,757

100

Note: Figures are provisional and may be revised in 2010-11.

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