Kids’ peril at social service cuts
THOUSANDS of children are being left in neglect because of “severe cuts” to social services, a charity warns today.
Up to 36,000 kids did not initially get the help they needed from councils in the past two years, says Action for Children.
Despite being at risk of abuse, the children had to be referred back to social services because they did not get the support first time. One council left an unnamed six-year-old boy living in squalor, the charity claimed.
He was forced to survive on crisps and sausage rolls because “repeated referrals” by a health visitor to take him into care were rejected. Imran Hussain, of Action for Children, said: “It’s horrifying that thousands of children are being left to face the potential risk of abuse or neglect, not just once but again and again.”
Roy Perry, of the Local Government Association, said: “Government should not ignore warnings on the need to properly fund children’s services.”