A new CIPFA briefing lays bare a reality many in local government already feel acutely: meaningful improvement in children's social care comes with a significant, unavoidable price tag. Cost of Improvement in Children's Social Care reveals the scale of multi-year investment required for local authorities to move from underperformance to stability - and ultimately deliver better outcomes for children.
Children's services across England are under intense pressure in their pursuit to meet the needs of our communities. Rapidly expanding demand coupled with limited capacity is placing outcomes for children and young people at risk, undermining long-term economic sustainability.
