The number of children on the Child Protection Register in the Western Health Trust area increased by 23% last year, new figures show.
The figures, published by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, show as at 31 December 2013, the number children listed on the register in the Western Trust area had increased by 65 (23%), the largest in any of the Northern Ireland health trust areas.
At the end of last year, 1,945 children were listed on the register in the North, a small increase of 1% (12) on the previous quarter (1,933).
Compared with December 2012, the Register count decreased by 3% (64), from 2,009 to 1,945, with changes by Trusts ranging from a decrease of 20% (93) in the Belfast Trust.
Since 30 September 2013, there were increases of 8% (36) in the Northern Trust, 2% (8) in the Western Trust and 1% (5) in the South Eastern Trust.
Of the 1,945 children on the Register at 31 December last, just under one quarter (24% – 474) were in the Northern Trust, with 21% (404) in the South Eastern Trust, 19% (369) in the Belfast Trust, 18% (350) in the Southern Trust and 18% (348) in the Western Trust.
The age profile of children on the Register remained relatively stable from quarter to quarter, with 37% (722) aged 5-11 years, 31% (594) aged 1-4 years, 18% (344) aged 12-15 years, 11% (213) under 1, and 4% (72) aged 16 or over, for the quarter ending 31 December last.
Quarterly changes across Trusts showed that referrals rose by 31% (44) in the Western Trust, by 30% (46) in the Northern Trust, by 20% (20) in the Belfast Trust and by 16% (46) in the South Eastern Trust. Referrals fell 16% (40) in the Southern Trust.
Over half of all Referrals (57% – 602) originated from within Social Services, 13% (142) from the PSNI, 8% (88) from School/Educational Welfare Officers, 4% (44) from Relatives and 9% (91) from ‘Other’ sources.
