Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Strong growth sees market value reach five-year high in 2018
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- Figure 1: UK market for children’s social care, 2014/15-2018/19, (£ million)
- ‘Other’ expenditure rises by highest amount, benefitting from government-led drive for these areas
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- Figure 2: Segmentation of the UK market for children’s social care, by type of care, 2014/15 and 2018/19, (% of total spend)
- Rate of growth expected to remain stable
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- Figure 3: UK market forecast for children's social care, 2019/20-2023/24, (£ million at 2018/19 prices)
- Referrals record second consecutive rise whilst assessments rise for fourth time in 2017/18
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- Figure 4: Referrals and initial assessments to children’s social care, England, 2013/14-2017/18, (unit)
- Companies and brands
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Social worker pressures starting to lead to wider industry issues
- The facts
- The implications
- Early intervention services have been most affected by spending cuts, contributing to a rise in children in care
- The facts
- The implications
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Strong growth sees market value reach five-year high in 2018
- ‘Other’ expenditure rises by highest amount, benefitting from government-led drive for these areas
- Rate of growth expected to remain stable
Market Size
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- Strong growth sees market value reach five-year high in 2018
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- Figure 5: UK market for children’s social care, 2014/15-2018/19, (£ million)
- Regional analysis
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- Figure 6: Segmentation of UK market for children’s social care, by country, 2014/15-2018/19, (£ million)
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- Figure 7: Number of children looked after, by country, 2014-18, (number of children)
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- Figure 8: Number of children looked after in England, by age and gender, as of 31 March, 2014-18, (number of children)
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- Figure 9: Number of children looked after in Scotland, by age and gender, as of 31 July, 2014-18, (number of children)
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- Figure 10: Number of children looked after in Wales, by age and gender, as of 31 March, 2014-18, (number of children)
Market Segmentation
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- ‘Other’ expenditure rises by highest amount, benefitting from government-led drive for these areas
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- Figure 11: Segmentation of the UK market for children’s social care, by type of care, 2014/15-2018/19, (£ million)
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- Figure 12: Number of children looked after, at 31 March and 31 July, by placement type, UK, 2014-18, (number of children)
- Children’s homes
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- Figure 13: UK children’s home placements and average annual cost, at 31 March of each year (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and 31 July of each year (Scotland), 2014/15-2018/19, (number of children and £ 000)
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- Figure 14: Number of children in children's homes in Scotland, 2014/15-2018/19, (number of children)
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- Figure 15: Children’s homes in England, at 31 March 2018, by region, (number)
- Foster care
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- Figure 16: UK foster care placements and average annual cost, at 31 March of each year (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and 31 July of each year (Scotland), 2014/15-2018/19, (number of children and £ 000)
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- Figure 17: Foster placements in England, at 31 March of each year, by placement type and location, 2014-18, (number of children)
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- Figure 18: UK fostering rates, 2018/19 and 2019/20, (£ per week)
- Special education
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- Figure 19: UK market for SEN care, 2014/15-2018/19, (£ million)
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- Figure 20: Students with special educational needs, by school type, England, 2014/15-2018/19, (number of children and % of pupils in each school type)
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- Figure 21: Students with special educational needs, by academy type, England, 2015-18, (number of children and % of pupils in each academy type)
- Independent vs public supply
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- Figure 22: Segmentation of the UK market for children’s social care, by type of provider, 2014/15-2018/19, (% and £ million)
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- Figure 23: Segmentation of the UK market for children’s social care, by sector and type of provider, 2014/15-2018/19, (% and £ million)
Market Forecast
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- Rate of growth expected to remain stable
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- Figure 24: UK market forecast for children’s social care, 2019/20-2023/24, (£ million at 2018/19 prices)
- Children’s homes spend expected to record largest growth
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- Figure 25: UK market segmentation forecast for children’s social care, by type of care, 2019/20-2023/24, (£ million)
- Rising pressure on foster care allowances and fees are reducing the sector’s ability to meet demand
- Funds made available to train new social workers
The Impact of the Economy
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- Annual GDP growth falls to six-year low in 2018
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- Figure 26: Annual GDP growth rate, 2014-18, (%)
- Bank rate remains at 0.75%
Market Trends
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- London is home to the most social workers but also has the highest staff turnover…
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- Figure 27: Children’s social care workers in England, 2018, (number of FTE workers and % turnover rate)
- …despite over a third of industry funding going towards the employment of social workers
- Most cuts to spending have occurred in economically-deprived areas
- Referrals to children’s social care rose for the second consecutive time in 2017/18, while completed initial assessments rose for a fourth time
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- Figure 28: Referrals and initial assessments to children’s social care, England, 2013/14-2017/18, (number and rate per 10,000 children under 18 years)
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- Figure 29: Referrals to children’s social care, England, by most common source of referral, 2017/18, (%)
- Figure 30: Initial assessments to children’s social care, England, by most common primary need, 2017/18, (%)
Market Drivers
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- The number of children living in relative poverty is rising
- With Brexit looming ever closer, uncertainty remains around social care processes and the pace of much-needed industry reform
- Co-operation on child protection and law enforcement
- Co-operation on family law matters
- Criminal records and staff vetting
Legislation
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- Children Act
- Children and Families Act
- Care Standards Act
- Children’s Homes Regulations
- Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act
- The Children and Social Work Act
Companies and Brands – What You Need to Know
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- New partnerships formed in attempt to reduce the number of vulnerable children in care
- Councils are using data predictive systems to combat abuse cases
Industry Structure
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- Industry development
- Ofsted reports small rise in the number of homes
- Private sector involvement in the industry reaches a high
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- Figure 31: Proportion of all children’s homes in England run by state or independent organisations, by region, as of 30 September 2018, (%)
- New partnerships formed in attempt to reduce the number of vulnerable children in care
- Changes in the structure of the industry
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- Figure 32: Analysis of the changes in the structure of 'other residential care activities', 2014-18, (number of outlets and businesses)
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- Figure 33: Analysis of the changes in the structure of 'other social work activities without accommodation n.e.c.', 2014-18, (number of outlets and businesses)
- Structure by employment
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- Figure 34: Analysis of the employment structure of ‘other residential care activities’, 2017 and 2018, (number of employees and outlets)
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- Figure 35: Analysis of the employment structure of 'other social work activities without accommodation n.e.c.', 2017 and 2018, (number of employees and outlets)
- Structure by turnover
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- Figure 36: Analysis of the financial structure of 'other residential care activities', 2017 and 2018, (£000 and number of businesses)
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- Figure 37: Analysis of the financial structure of 'other social work activities without accommodation n.e.c.', 2017 and 2018, (£000 and number of businesses)
Competitive Strategies
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- Care leavers’ services launched to help smooth transition into adult life
- Councils are using data predictive systems to combat abuse cases
Company Profiles
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- Acorn Care and Education
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 38: Financial analysis of Acorn Care 1, 2013-17, (£000)
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- Figure 39: Financial analysis of Fostering Solutions, 2013-17, (£000)
- Cambian Childcare
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 40: Financial analysis of Cambian Childcare Limited, 2013-17, (£000)
- Foster Care Associates
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 41: Financial analysis of Foster Care Associates, 2013-17, (£ 000)
- Keys Group
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 42: Financial analysis of Keys Care Limited, 2017-18, (£000)
- The National Autistic Society
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 43: Financial analysis of The National Autistic Society, 2014-18, (£000)
- National Fostering Agency
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 44: Financial analysis of National Fostering Agency, 2013-17*, (£000)
- Priory Education and Children’s Services
- Recent company activity
- Financial information
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- Figure 45: Financial analysis of Priory Education Services Limited, 2013-17, (£000)
Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Methodology
Further Sources and Contacts
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- Trade associations
- Association of Directors of Children’s Services Ltd (ADCS)
- CoramBAAF Academy of Adoption and Fostering
- Independent Children’s Homes Association (ICHA)
- Nasen
- Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers (NAFP)
- National Children’s Bureau (NCB)
- National Portage Association
- Trade magazines
- Become (formerly known as Who Cares?) (Quarterly)
- Child Care (Monthly)
- Children & Young People Now (Fortnightly)
- Social Work News (Quarterly)
- Trade events
- ADCS Annual Conference 2019
- Community Care Live London 2019
- National Children and Adult Services Conference 2019
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