Our report examines how county councils in England are delivering children’s services amid significant financial and operational pressures. Councils face rising demand, shrinking budgets, and increasing expectations. Funding for counties has fallen sharply, with reductions of around 40% over recent years, while demand for services—particularly safeguarding and child protection—has grown significantly.
The report highlights safeguarding as the top priority and greatest risk, intensified by high-profile cases of abuse and rising referrals to social care. Increasing numbers of children are subject to protection plans or entering care, placing further strain on resources. At the same time, councils struggle to recruit and retain qualified social workers, leading to higher vacancy rates and greater reliance on agency staff.
Despite these challenges, county and unitary councils often achieve strong performance outcomes, including higher proportions of positive inspection ratings compared to other authority types. They have adopted innovative approaches, such as multi-agency partnerships, early intervention programmes, and new service delivery models, to improve outcomes and manage demand.
Our report argues that sustainable funding, improved workforce strategies, and greater local flexibility are essential. It emphasises the importance of early intervention, partnership working, and system-wide reform to ensure services remain effective and protect vulnerable children.