Analysis of repeat child protection referrals

The research found that after six years, more than half of a sample of children who were referred to children's services in 2010/11 returned to the system at least once.

The study found that a series of individual characteristics were associated with an increased likelihood of re-referral.

These were:

• younger children
• females
• disabled children
• children initially stepped down as needing no further action
• children referred initially for abuse or neglect, parental disability or illness, family in acute distress, family dysfunction, or socially unacceptable behaviour.

They also found that the likelihood of children being re-referred increase when social workers had higher caseloads.

For full report see here.