Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Children’s Social Care 2025-07-10

10 July 2025 · 5 other contributors

Opened by Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

Social CareChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Helen Hayes raised concerns about children’s social care 2025-07-10 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • The children's social care system faces significant strain due to rising need, stretched budgets, and workforce shortages.
  • The number of looked-after children has increased by over 20% since 2014.
  • Spending on early help services has seen a 31% real terms decrease over the last decade.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

The children's social care system is under significant strain due to rising need, stretched budgets, and workforce shortages. The number of looked-after children increased by over 20% since 2014, with the cost of crisis interventions skyrocketing while early help services have seen a 31% real terms decrease in spending over the last decade. Helen Hayes urges the government to allocate substantial funding from the spending review to restore early intervention services to levels seen in 2010 and implement recommendations for placing children closer to home, addressing carer shortages, supporting kinship care with financial aid equivalent to foster carers, ensuring high-quality residential placements, improving workforce retention, providing better mental health support, and enhancing support for young people transitioning out of the care system.

Other contributors (5)
  • Munira Wilson LD Twickenham

    Welcomes the report's recommendations on kinship care but suggests expanding the adoption and special guardianship support fund to ensure all children receive adequate support, reflecting the distress felt by families affected by recent cuts.

  • Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

    Responds positively to Munira Wilson's suggestion about expanding the adoption and special guardianship support fund but stresses that any expansion should be carefully evaluated in terms of its impact before making changes.

  • John Hayes Con South Holland and The Deepings

    Welcomes the work of Helen Hayes as Chair of the Education Committee. Highlights concerns about special needs education and parenting quality, noting that some children are presenting to school poorly parented. He supports early intervention and welcomes government announcements on Best Start family hubs.

  • Jess Asato Lab Lowestoft

    Pays tribute to care leavers who shared traumatic stories of their journey through the care system, emphasising the responsibility of the state as the corporate parent. Supports the recommendation for a national care leaver offer to ensure consistent support across local authorities.

  • Josh Newbury Lab Cannock Chase

    Welcomes the report highlighting gaps in foster care provision and supports proper recognition of effort and complexity involved in fostering placements. Calls for a national care leaver offer to help those moving out of council areas where they were taken into care.

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