{"id":3286,"date":"2020-05-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.provident-it.co.uk\/ipc\/covid-19children-families\/"},"modified":"2024-07-17T11:57:38","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T11:57:38","slug":"the-impact-of-covid-19-on-children-and-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/development.provident-it.co.uk\/ipc\/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-children-and-families\/","title":{"rendered":"The impact of Covid-19 on children and families"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This post offers observations about the impact of Covid-19 on children and families, the current challenges facing commissioners and providers in meeting needs and how they are responding, and some suggestions on the future direction for commissioning. It has been prepared by IPC Principal Consultant, Clare Dodwell.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst the government has issued guidance <\/a>and some additional funding<\/a> for children\u2019s social care services and other agencies that provide intensive and specialist support to children and families with a statutory plan; there has been relatively little attention given to the early help services<\/strong> that work with thousands of families to tackle emerging issues and problems early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We think that the landscape of early help deserves more consideration if we are to avoid a scenario where the indirect consequences of the Covid-19 lockdown results in family needs being picked up late, when they have become complex and chronic, more damaging to children\u2019s life chances and more costly for society as a whole. Emerging data suggests that referrals to children\u2019s social care have fallen by as much as half since the Covid-19 lockdown (Local Government Chronicle, 23 April). Faced with the immediate crisis in adult services, local authorities have inevitably prioritised the needs of older people and those with underlying health conditions. Families who are \u2018not known\u2019 to children\u2019s social care but had been benefitting from open access, early intervention provision (stay and play drop ins at children\u2019s centres, for example) have become out of touch now that these services are closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the impact of Covid-19 on children and families?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The majority of children and young people are thought to be at lower risk of developing serious symptoms or dying from Covid-19 than adults and older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, there are some key challenges that are likely to be impacting many families, threatening those that were already struggling to function well and tipping many more into a fragile position. Risk factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poverty<\/strong> \u2013 the economic impact of Covid-19 is hitting hard and despite government funding schemes, many people\u2019s livelihoods are at risk. It is likely that many more children will be growing up in hardship as their parents face job losses and falls in earnings. More families may not be able to provide basic necessities to keep their children safe and well, like housing, food, clothing and technology like laptops, now essential for learning at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental health and wellbeing<\/strong> \u2013 Research is revealing that many parents and children are likely to be experiencing a deterioration in mental health and wellbeing at this time (Transforming Mental Health and the Academy of Medical Sciences, 2020). The huge uncertainty around employment\/income, as well as the day-to-day pressures of being together 24\/7 under the same roof and trying to home school children is causing an increase in stress and anxiety amongst parents. Children and young people are coping with major changes in routine and the loss of normal activities like meeting friends, going to youth clubs, libraries, sports and leisure activities and playgrounds. This can result in feelings of loneliness and isolation, and an increase in stress, anxiety or low mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family conflict<\/strong> \u2013 the new stresses in the home may at worst lead to an increase in abuse. We know from research (Harold, 2018) that exposure to prolonged intense arguing can be as damaging to children as exposure to actual violence. There are many reports that domestic abuse is increasing \u2013 the UK\u2019s largest domestic abuse charity, Refuge, recently reported a 700% increase in calls to its helpline in a single day<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A decrease in protective factors <\/strong>which help to mitigate these risks in \u2018normal times\u2019 include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n