The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published the ‘Children Order Statistical Bulletin 2009’.
 
The bulletin provides information on a range of issues relating to children’s social care including child protection, children in need, looked after children, and day care provision for children in Northern Ireland.
 
Key Facts and Figures:
 
Child Protection
·         At 31st March 2009, there were 2,488 children on the child protection register in Northern Ireland, an increase of 20% (417) from 2008 (2,071)
 
·         Of the 2,488 children on the child protection register:
 
- 50% were boys and 50% were girls;
 
- 7% were aged under 1 year old, and 7% were aged 16 or older;
 
- Neglect was the most common category of abuse, with 50% assessed to be at risk of neglect; and
 
- 60% had been registered for less than one year, with 7% registered for 3 years or longer
 
·         There were 3,825 referrals during 2008/09, 41% from within social services
 
·         Of the 2,856 investigations in 2008/09, 78% were led by social workers
 
·         There were 1,829 additions to registers (registrations), with 1,401 deregistrations during 2008/09
 
·         84% of the initial case conferences led to registration on child protection registers Children in Need
 
·         During 2008/09, there were 28,440 referrals to children’s social services; these referrals related to 22,532 children
 
·         By 31st March 2009, 80% of children referred to social services had been allocated for further action (service or assessment)
 
Children Looked After
·         At 31st March 2009, there were 2,463 looked after children in Northern Ireland, an increase of 1% (30) from 2008 (2,433)
 
·         Of the 2,463 looked after children:
 
- 53% were boys and 47% were girls;
 
- 3% were aged under 1 year old, 20% were aged 16 years or older;
 
- 65% were in foster care, 18% were placed with family, 13% were in residential care and 3% were in other placement types;
 
-46% were subject of a Care Order (Article 50 or 59), and
 
-23% had been in care for less than 1 year; with 10% in care for 10 years or longer
 
·         During 2007/08, there were 1059 admissions into care
 
·         There were 921 discharges from care during 2008/09
 
·         In 2008/09, there were 689 respite care placements