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Supervision Requirements at home

What does SCRA data and research tell us?

4 December 2012

www.scra.gov.uk

Supervision Requirements

In 2011-12 - 16,171 looked after children in Scotland -

13,093 had Supervision Requirements.

1. SCRA data on children with Supervision Requirements at home

2. SCRA research – ‘Children on supervision Requirements for Five or More Years – Decisions and Outcomes’. Published on 12 November 2012.

www.scra.gov.uk

Supervision Requirements- trends1. Supervision Requirements at home

Year (at 31 March)

Children on SR

Children on SR at home

% children on SR at home

2008-09 13,523 7,159 52.9%

2009-10 13,829 7,136 51.6%

2010-11 13,474 6,815 50.6%

2011-12 13,093 6,513 49.7%

www.scra.gov.ukSupervision Requirements– at home

.

% children on SR at home by local authority area - 2011-12

0.0 %

10.0 %

20.0 %

30.0 %

40.0 %

50.0 %

60.0 %

70.0 %

80.0 %

www.scra.gov.uk

Supervision Requirements- trends2. Supervision Requirements of 5+ years

Year (at 31 March)

Children on SR for 5+ years

% children on SR for 5+ years

2008-09 2,091 15.5%

2009-10 2,145 15.5%

2010-11 2,135 15.8%

2011-12 2,198 16.8%

www.scra.gov.uk

Supervision Requirements of 5+ years – at home

2011-12:

• 2,198 children had been on Supervision Requirements for 5 or more years

• 99.4% were referred on care and protection grounds; 0.6% were referred for offending

• 1,328 (60%) of these children were first placed on Supervision Requirements at home

• 1,109 of the 1,328 children (84%) who were first placed on Supervision Requirements at home went on to be accommodated

• 219 (16%) remained on Supervision Requirements at home (i.e. never accommodated)

www.scra.gov.uk

SCRA research - 5+ years Supervision Requirements

90 children from 8 local authority areas – SRs ranged from 5.14 to 15.84 years

Main findings:• All on SR due to poor care or risks from parents• 31% of children had parent who was on SR as a

child• 68% of children had at least 3 moves• 56% of moves were not planned• Early stages of SRs did not provide stability and

security • But over time (>5 years) positive outcomes

increased

Research raised 12 questions for policy makers and practitioners

www.scra.gov.uk

SCRA research - 5+ years Supervision Requirements – at home

46 of 90 children – first Supervision Requirement was at home

7 children – never accommodated, remained on SR at home

39 children went onto be accommodated. Most (72%) had spent at least a year on home SR

13 of the 39 children (33%) were removed to a place of safety by a Warrant or Child Protection Order

7 of the 39 children (18%) were successfully rehabilitated home after being accommodated.

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SCRA research - 5+ years Supervision Requirements – at home

Risks when on Supervision Requirements at home – children’s experiences:

• 36% had Child Protection Registrations (most common Physical Neglect)

• 60% - continued to be exposed to neglect

• Numbers displaying emotional and/or behavioural problems almost doubled (from 36% to 62%)

• Numbers with poor school attendance doubled (15% to 31%)

www.scra.gov.uk

SCRA research - 5+ years Supervision Requirements – at home

Risks when on Supervision Requirements at home - parents:

• ~40% - parents continued to not to engage with services

• >40% - parents continued to misuse drugs

• 25% - parents continued to misuse alcohol

www.scra.gov.uk

SCRA official statistics

SCRA research report – Children on Supervision Requirements for Five or More Years: Decisions and Outcomes

www.scra.gov.uk

Dr Gillian HendersonInformation & Research Manager

gillian.henderson@scra.gsi.gov.uk

More information …