How many children were referred to children’s social services due to concern that they may be at risk of child sexual exploitation in 2016?
Three hundred and four (304)
We have interpreted the statement “referred to children’s social services” to mean initial enquiries into the council and not referrals of those contacts to operational social work teams
We have interpreted the statement “concern that they may be at risk of child sexual exploitation” to mean current risks and not historical risks.
We have interpreted the statement “in 2016” to mean the period 01 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.
Where a child had multiple enquiries in that period only the first one has been included in the total. Each child has only been counted once, where they are the main subject of the enquiry, but that includes siblings who who subsequently became the subject of an enquiry. The total includes all unique children up to age seventeen (17) who had an enquiry where the CSE risk factor was identified.
However, there are many risk factors that are reported at initial enquiry stage, therefore the CSE risk factor may not be the only one and thus may not be the only reason for the enquiry.
Does this represent an increase on previous years?
Yes