MORE than 8,500 children in Dorset are judged to be in need of support after being referred to social services departments.

The figures emerged as part of an analysis of British children in need of protection and assistance and have thrown up some shocking details.

They show that a quarter of neglected and abused children in Bournemouth are already at risk of significant harm by the time social services step in.

The latest Department for Education statistics show 2,197 children were judged to be in need of support after being referred to the council's social services in 2018-19 – equivalent to 60 in every 1,000 young people.

Of these, 24 per cent were made the subject of a child protection enquiry, which the British Association of Social Workers says indicates a juvenile is at crisis point.

This was up from 10 per cent when records began in 2009-10.

Domestic violence was the most common concern for children referred to social services, mentioned in just under half of assessments, followed by mental health, which featured in 42 per cent.

Things are no better in the Dorset Council area where a quarter of youngsters are already at risk of significant harm by the time social services step in, figures reveal.

The same dataset shows that 4,218 children were judged to be in need of support in 2018-19 – equivalent to 55 in every 1,000 young people.

Of these, 25 per cent were made the subject of a child protection enquiry, up from 13 per cent when records began.

Meanwhile, in Poole, 2,086 children were judged to be in need of support after being referred to the council's social services in 2018-19 – equivalent to 69 in every 1,000 young people.

Of these, 12 per cent were made the subject of a child protection enquiry, down from 14 per cent when records began.

The Local Government Association warns that "huge increases" in demand across England have outpaced funding, putting vulnerable youngsters and their families at risk.

Chair of the LGA's children and young people board, Councillor Judith Blakesaid: "Councils want to make sure that children can get the best, rather than get by.

"Yet funding pressures are coinciding with huge increases in demand for support because of problems like hardship and family conflict, which is making it increasingly difficult for them to do that.

"No family is immune to life's challenges, and every family should feel safe in the knowledge that if they need it, help is there to get things back on track.

"If councils are to give children and families the help they need and deserve, it is vital they are fully funded. This is not just children's services, but the breadth of support councils can provide, from public health to housing."

Families of youngsters in need may simply be given advice or referred to services that can help, such as counselling or after-school clubs.

But when social workers suspect a child is suffering or is at risk of harm they will make what is known as a Section 47 enquiry, to determine if they need to intervene.

If they conclude the child is at risk, they must then decide whether to put a protection plan in place.

In Bournemouth, 17 per cent of vulnerable children were under protection plans during 2018-19, compared to just seven per cent nine years earlier.

By law, the measures must be reviewed within three months, and once every six months after that.

But reviews were not carried out in time for 25 of the area's 86 youngsters subject to a plan for longer than three months.

In Poole, 11 per cent of vulnerable children were under protection plans during 2018-19, compared to nine per cent nine years earlier.