Coronavirus ‘devastation’ will last for years, children’s charities warn amid surge in demand

The “devastation” caused by coronavirus will be felt for years to come for children and vulnerable families, charities have warned, as they struggle to cope with surging demand.

A group of the UK’s largest children’s organisations said years of under-investment by the government had left services overstretched, meaning more children may be taken away from their families.

Analysis by The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, Action for Children, NSPCC and the National Children’s Bureau said that funding for children’s services had fallen by £2.2bn in the past eight years, forcing many early intervention schemes to be dropped.

It said that councils had reallocated funds from other budgets to fill the gap, meaning spending only fell by £536m in the same period – at the cost of “difficult decisions”.

“Local authority budgets have been so squeezed that councils can only afford to get involved when children have reached crisis point and need costly interventions, like being taken into care,” said a report released on Monday.

“Now the charities are deeply concerned about how these already overstretched services will cope after the coronavirus crisis, with a crippling spike in demand expected as the true extent of the devastation caused by the pandemic becomes apparent.”

Social distancing has forced the vast majority of social and child protection work to be carried out online, prompting concern over a rise in hidden abuse.

One council worker, with more than 10 years’ experience, told researchers: “I've never seen the type of need from some of our families that we’re seeing now.”

Schools, colleges and nurseries closed more than seven weeks ago due to the coronavirus outbreak, remaining open only for vulnerable youngsters and the children of key workers.

But the latest government figures show that only around 14 per cent of vulnerable children – those with a social worker or an education, health and care plan in England – are attending school.

“Even before the lockdown children were facing growing challenges, from knife crime and gangs, to cyberbullying and online grooming,” said Javed Khan, the chief executive of Barnardo's.

“Now there is a new wave of ‘hidden’ children, falling into poverty, experiencing domestic abuse and tipping the existing crisis in mental health into catastrophe.

“We know there will be a massive increase in demand for support, with the effects of the pandemic felt for years to come.”

Action for Children compared the situation to leaving the NHS with only A&E departments, but no GPs.

“A system geared only for crisis guarantees more children will end up in crisis,” said deputy chief executive Carol Iddon. “We risk being unprepared for the fallout for families from the coronavirus crisis.”

Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said the risks facing children both inside and outside their homes “may be hidden from the view of professionals until the lockdown is lifted”.

“Councils may then face a perfect storm of soaring demand to support young people amid massive new financial pressures,” he warned.

The NSPCC said the situation was “not sustainable before the coronavirus crisis and the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on children means it cannot continue. We need a new approach”.

The report called for increased investment in preventative services like family support and children’s centres to prevent people reaching crisis point.

The Local Government Association supported the call, saying councils were “extremely concerned about potential hidden harm” during the lockdown.

Judith Blake, chair of its children and young people board, said: “Since stay at home guidance was issued and with people self-isolating, children’s social care referrals have fallen by more than half in some areas, from an average of almost 1,800 per day.”

The government said it was giving councils £3.2bn of emergency funding to tackle immediate pressures.

“This is on top of English councils' core spending power rising by over £2.9bn this financial year,” a spokesperson added.

“Keeping vulnerable children safe is our priority, which is why we have kept school places open for these children.

“We have also committed additional funding worth £26.4m directly to charities to support them, as well as a £100m devices and connectivity programme which will provide laptops so that children with social workers continue to receive care online.”