Lockdown has had "potentially devastating impact" on vulnerable children in Sheffield

Hundreds of families will need help because lockdown had a "potentially devastating impact" on the most vulnerable children in Sheffield, warns social services.
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Social care chiefs are preparing for an additional 500 referrals when schools, GPs and hospitals resume their contact with families.

Carly Speechley, director of children and families, has given a stark warning in a report about how much children have suffered.

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"While children are not the face of this pandemic, the broader impacts on children risk the most lasting consequences for society as a whole.

Lockdown has had "potentially devastating impact" on vulnerable children in SheffieldLockdown has had "potentially devastating impact" on vulnerable children in Sheffield
Lockdown has had "potentially devastating impact" on vulnerable children in Sheffield

"Steps put in place to fight the virus are likely to have a disproportionate and potentially devastating impact on the most vulnerable children and young people.

"The main threats are an increased risk of harm to already vulnerable children, reduced opportunities for development, the impact of social isolation and families falling into poverty.

"Currently Multi-Agency Support Teams (MAST) manage around 600 new referrals per month.

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"During lockdown we have ensured this service has remained available to all families referred for support.

"We should anticipate a minimum of 500 additional early help and social care cases as lockdown eases.

"It is imperative that children’s social care continues to operate as close as possible to business as usual despite the current public health crisis."

Ms Speechley said cases coming through the system were slow as many services were not fully back up and running and she warned there may not be sufficient placements if demand starts to rise.

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"The nature of the social work referral process means there is always a lag in the true number of cases coming into the service.

"Demand for social care is suppressed at the moment as universal services, including schools and GPs, are not yet fully operational.

"The reduction in referrals and reduced early stage support from MAST and Children’s Centres during the pandemic will likely result in more families reaching social care levels than under normal conditions.

"Ultimately this is likely to lead to a greater number of referrals to social care. We expect an increase in demand as schools, GPs and hospitals start to open from September."

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"We cannot yet fully determine the longer-term impacts on our reduced revenues and increased costs.

"For example we anticipate there will be additional services needed to support people with mental health issues, or families in crisis, and reduced council tax and business rate income as businesses close and citizens become unemployed."

The report highlights a number of concerns:

- Increased risk of harm to already vulnerable children

- Neglect, abuse, domestic violence and substance misuse are all less likely to be detected during lockdown, says Ms Speechley.

"Europol has reported an increase in internet searches for child abuse material since the pandemic began, suggesting an increasing vulnerability to sexual exploitation as the lockdown continues.

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"There are also predictions of increased teenage pregnancy and increased risk of homelessness. These issues are compounded by reduced face to face monitoring and access to social work and MAST."

Social isolation

"The loss of formal and informal learning opportunities is compounded by reduced interaction with peer groups, increasing the isolation and loneliness experienced by children, young people and young carers, impacting on their mental health and leading to more anxiety and withdrawal," says Ms Speechley.

"Vulnerable children at home have less access to e-learning and are more likely to have poor home-based learning resources and toys. Many children in care will have reduced face to face contact time with birth families.

"Delays in access to free early learning and childcare, and increased reliance during lockdown on parents to provide childcare without wider family network support, such as grandparents, has limited children’s social interaction."

Families Falling into Poverty

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"Large scale redundancies associated with a post pandemic recession will transfer economic problems to families and public services, without mitigation this will cause long term damage to communities," says Ms Speechly.

"As the cost of living increases for families, alongside a reduction in parental earnings the risk of families falling into poverty increases.

"Many families are already under increased stress and it is likely that a greater number of families not currently known to social care will require support or interventions in the coming months.

"Due to the increase in demand for Universal Credit there are delays in families being able to access these benefits. This further compounds the risk of these families falling into poverty."

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