Hundreds of Sheffield children at risk of neglect or abuse placed on protection plans

There’s been an increase in the number of child protection plans started in Sheffield in the last decade. It reflects a national trend but council chiefs say it’s hard to pinpoint one single reason.

Last year 779 children became subject to a protection plan - 568 children were still on a plan at the end of the year. Of these, 143 children were on a plan for a second or subsequent time.

Although the number has risen compared to previous years, Sheffield is in line with England plus Yorkshire and Humber.

Victoria Horsefield, assistant director of safeguarding at Sheffield Council said: “We take our safeguarding responsibility to children very seriously.

“Child protection plans are put in place to support families and keep children safe when it is thought they are at risk of significant harm.

“They can be initiated for a range of reasons, including neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse. We always take any decision to put a child on a protection plan based on the best interests of the child or young person.

“It is hard to pinpoint a single reason for this increase but greater public awareness, a willingness to report abuse, as well as a greater understanding amongst practitioners of the impact of neglect and adolescent vulnerability are all factors.”

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Age of children on protection plans:

- Under one - 10 per cent

- Between one and four - 23 per cent

- Between five and nine - 26 per cent

- Ten to 15 - 33 per cent

- Above 15 - eight per cent

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Ms Horsefield added: “In Sheffield we have seen a slight increase in the number of older children aged 10-17 becoming subject to protection plans.

“This is linked to a greater understanding of the risks older children face outside of families from their neighbourhoods, schools and online.

“The most common reason for a protection plan being made in Sheffield is emotional abuse followed closely by neglect. Emotional abuse has been the most common reason in Sheffield for several years.

“When a child protection plan is made, we hold a conference with the parents, social workers and all other professionals involved. The decisions are made by the meeting guided by an experienced chair which may account for variations in local trends and data.”