THE Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) region has the highest number of children on the Child Protection Register in Northern Ireland, according to a recent report issued by the Department of Health.

The ‘Children’s Social Care Statistics for Northern Ireland 2019/20’ report showed that 597 children were on the register in the Western area, comprising 303 boys and 294 girls.

The Southern Trust has 555 children on the register, while the Belfast Trust has the fewest children registered, with 251.

This is the highest figure of all the five Trusts, with the Western region seeing a sharp rise since 2016. In 2016, there were 290 children on the Child Protection Register.

The number of referrals by the Western Trust also increased year on year, from 2015/16 (604) to 2019/20 (846).

Up to March 31, 2020, some 2,298 children were listed on the Child Protection Register, while neglect and physical abuse were the main reasons for a child being on the register, accounting for more than three quarters of all on the register (78 per cent).

There were 734 child protection investigations in the Western Trust area up until March 31, 2020 – an increase of 103 from 2019.

The report revealed that up until the end of March, 2020, some 22,414 children in Northern Ireland were known to Social Services as a child in need.

The Western Trust had the third-highest figure (4,056), but per 100,000 of child population, it had the highest rate, at 553.

In the report, 3,383 children and young people were in care in Northern Ireland. This was the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

Some 651 of those were in the Western Trust region – the third-highest figure; however, by 10,000 population under 18, it had the second-highest rate, at 88.8.

Some 516 (79 per cent) of those children were in foster care placements, 60 were placed with parents, 34 were in residential care, and 41 were in other placements.

During 2019/20, there were 129 admissions to care, and 112 discharges in the Western Trust.

In Northern Ireland, from 2014/15 to 2019/20, there has been a decrease in the number of children in need, from 23,834 to 22,414.

However, the number on the Child Protection Register has increased, from 1,969 to 2,298.

Children in care has risen from 2,875 to 3,383 children.

The number of daycare providers has decreased, from 3,955 from 4,616, but daycare places have increased, from 55,200 to 61,566.