Comparing Local Authority Rates of Children in Care: A Survey of the Children’s Social Care Workforce in Wales

Abstract The rate of children in care in Wales is one of the highest in the world and has increased considerably in the past two decades. Whilst many factors may be driving these increases, there is considerable variation between local authorities. This article presents findings from a survey completed by children’s social care workers in Wales (n = 792). It compares the views, values and responses to case study vignettes of workers in authorities with increasing to those with decreasing care rates over five years (2016–2020). Statistically significant differences were found relating to the values and the practices of workers, with workers in local authorities with reducing rates having stronger pro-family values, less risk averse responses to case vignettes, more confidence in the decisions made in their local authority and being more positive about support for practice. The findings indicate that variations in local authority values and practices may influence the rate of children in care and that some with significant social problems seem able to avoid the large numbers of children in care found in other authorities. The challenge faced in Wales and the UK is how local authorities can learn from one another to ensure consistency and quality in services. The rate of children in care in Wales is one of the highest in the world. Considerable variations in the rates of children in care exist between local authorities. This raises issues of fairness in the consistency and quality of services received by families. To try to understand why there is such variation in rates of children in care, a survey was completed by children’s social care workers in Wales. This article presents the results of this survey. It found that values and practices of workers varied between local authorities with decreasing rates of care compared with those with increasing rates. Furthermore, workers in local authorities with decreasing rates of care felt supported to make the right decisions about whether a child should be taken into care and were more confident taking risks to keep families together when it was safe and possible. More work is needed to better understand the differences in local authority culture and how best to achieve changes in the values and practices in these organisations.