Children In Need require services and support in order to have the same health and development opportunities as other children. Their needs may have been identified in a social care assessment, or they may receive support because they have a disability. This indicator provides a snapshot of the number of Children in Need Plans on 31st December of each year.

The number of children with a Child In Need Plan in December 2022 was 175. This number has reduced from 292 at the end of 2019. Early Help services have developed over the last three years, and a number of Children In Need are now supported more appropriately by Early Help. The Assessment and Support Team was introduced in Children's Social Care in 2020. This enhanced focus on identifying and assessing need, has strengthened our response to referrals and will also have contributed to the reduction in the number of Children supported with Child in Need plans. Data is unavailable for 2017.