Social Services activity: April 2024 to March 2025 (Official Statistics in development)
Information on the activity of local authority social services for April 2024 to March 2025.
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In this page
Introduction
This annual statistical release presents figures about the activity of local authority social services across Wales.
The Code of Practice in relation to the performance and improvement of social services issued on 1 April 2020 sets out how local authorities must collect data and evidence to gain the insight needed to understand the care and support and support for carers they provide in the delivery of their responsibilities under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation). It introduced a new performance and improvement framework for social services in Wales and detailed a set of data metrics under the ‘Measuring Activity and Performance’ section to be provided annually by local authorities.
These statistics provide the context in which local authorities are working by providing information on the numbers of people moving through the social services system and identifying the resulting need for care and support services.
Statistics in this release are considered official statistics in development (Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR)). For example, we have identified data quality issues that we expect to improve in future years. Broadly, these relate to missing data and inconsistencies in the way data is reported.
Main points
Adults
During the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
- 134,013 contacts were received by statutory social services for information, advice and assistance (IAA) services for adults who were not receiving care and support, or support (as a carer) at the time of the contact [Note 1].
- 69,519 new assessments were completed for adults who did not already have a care and support plan. Where recorded, 48% of assessments concluded the adult had eligible needs which could be met without a care and support plan.
- 10,622 packages of reablement were completed by adults. 86% of completed packages reduced, maintained or mitigated the need for support following the period of reablement.
- 26,716 reports of an adult suspected of being at risk (of abuse or neglect) were received. Where the category of alleged abuse was provided, 36% of reports alleged abuse under the category of neglect (more than one category may be suspected in a report) [Note 2].
- 15,072 reports of an adult suspected of being at risk resulted in the need for enquiries to be made. 84% of enquiries were completed within seven working days. 29% of enquiries determined that additional action should be taken.
- 11,927 adults with a care and support plan paid the maximum weekly charge towards the cost of non-residential care at least once [Note 3].
On 31 March 2025
- 49,436 adults had a care and support plan. Of which, 13% had a care and support plan supported using a direct payment.
Children
During the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
- 273,047 contacts were received by statutory social services for information, advice and assistance (IAA) services for children who were not receiving care and support at the time of the contact.
- 48,596 new assessments were completed for children who did not already have a care and support plan. Where recorded, 62% of assessments concluded the child had eligible needs which could be met without a care and support plan.
- 85% of new assessments completed for children were completed within the statutory timescale of 42 working days from the point of referral. This ranged from 37% to nearly 100%, with seven local authorities at 90% or above.
- 3,937 children were added to the child protection register. Of which, 6% had been previously registered at any time during the previous 12 months. 4,107 children were removed from the child protection register.
- 290 care leavers experienced homelessness (as defined by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation)) [Note 2].
On 31 March 2025
- 20,286 children had a care and support plan. Of which, 9% had a care and support plan supported using a direct payment.
- 2,732 children were on the child protection register.
Carers
During the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
- 12,781 contacts were received by statutory social services from adult carers who were not receiving support (as a carer) at the time of the contact, or professionals contacting the information, advice and assistance (IAA) service on their behalf.
- 8,187 new assessments were completed for adult carers who did not already have a support plan.
- 2,043 contacts were received by statutory social services from young carers who were not receiving support (as a carer) at the time of the contact, or professionals contacting the information, advice and assistance (IAA) service on their behalf.
- 1,327 new assessments were completed for young carers who did not already have a support plan.
On 31 March 2025
- 3,098 adult carers had a support plan [Note 2].
- 2,020 young carers had a support plan.
[Note 1] two local authorities did not provide data for this field.
[Note 2]one local authority did not provide data for this field.
[Note 3] three local authorities did not provide data for this field.
Quality and methodology information
Changes to data collection requirements
Data collection was based on detailed guidance to aim to ensure coherence within and across local authorities. Some changes were made to data collection requirements for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 when compared to the previous year which are detailed in the revisions history section of the guidance. Most changes provided additional detail or clarification for reporting. A more notable change was the removal of the reference to care and treatment plans from AD/012.
Quality issues
The Welsh Government worked with local authorities to collect statistics on social services activity through the Performance and Improvement Framework returns. Quality assurance was undertaken with local authorities prior to publication.
Local authority level data is published on StatsWales for the reporting year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 for all metrics except for AD/030 and AD/031. Those metrics populated from the Children looked after census have not been published as the data for 2024-25 is currently undergoing validation and is not final.
Data was not provided from all 22 local authorities for 54 (50%) metrics for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 (excluding metrics populated from the Children looked after census). Missing data includes where data is not currently recorded, data is not recorded consistently or in a way that is reportable, or data has not been provided by the local authority. This data can only be used as an indication of the activity reported by selected local authorities and does not represent the full Wales position.
It is apparent from the data that there remain inconsistencies for some metrics which are likely explained by differing interpretations of how data should be reported and local practice. Variation and differences across local authorities are being investigated further.
Percentages in this release have been calculated based on data provided and are rounded to the nearest per cent. Where information is not available, this is clearly indicated on StatsWales.
Further information on quality can be found in the social services activity quality report.
Revisions
Minor revisions were made as part of processing the data which have been agreed by local authorities. Revisions made to previous years’ data are labelled with a “[r]”.
Statistical designation
These statistics are considered official statistics that are undergoing a development. This dataset is being published following the fifth year of data collection. Data quality issues have been identified that we expect to improve over time, and we are actively working with providers to do this.
Future development
Data collection requirements for the Performance and Improvement Framework metrics are kept under review through regular stakeholder engagement. Refreshed data requirements have been issued for the 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 reporting year which includes further changes to some metrics.
Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.
All of our statistics are produced and published in accordance with a number of statements and protocols to enhance trustworthiness, quality and value. These are set out in the Welsh Government’s Statement of Compliance.
These official statistics in development demonstrate the standards expected around trustworthiness, quality and public value in the following ways.
Trustworthiness
Data is returned annually from all 22 local authorities on spreadsheets via a web-based tool to securely share and receive files. Data collection is based on detailed guidance.
The published figures are compiled by professional analysts using the latest available data and applying methods using their professional judgement and analytical skillset.
These statistics are pre-announced on the Statistics and Research area of the Welsh Government website. Access to the data during processing is restricted to those involved in the production of the statistics, quality assurance and for operational purposes. Pre-release access is restricted to eligible recipients in line with the Code of Practice (UK Statistics Authority).
Quality
Our statistics are produced to high professional standards and are produced free from any political interference.
Validation checks are performed by Welsh Government statisticians and queries referred to local authorities where necessary.
The statistical release is approved by senior statisticians before publication. Data is published in line with statement on confidentiality and data access each year.
Value
The purpose of the statistical release is to inform users about the care and support and support for carers local authorities provide in the delivery of their responsibilities under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act (UK legislation).
Statistics are published annually with typically a nine-month lag between the reference period of the latest statistics and publication; however, data for the reporting year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 was published twelve months after the end of the year.
The statistics are published with Wales level analysis and commentary, in addition to open data format tables which are published on open data format tables which are published on StatsWales.
You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFG)
The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven wellbeing goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators (“national indicators”) that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the wellbeing goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before Senedd Cymru. Under section 10(8) of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, where the Welsh Ministers revise the national indicators, they must as soon as reasonably practicable (a) publish the indicators as revised and (b) lay a copy of them before the Senedd. These national indicators were laid before the Senedd in 2021. The indicators laid on 14 December 2021 replace the set laid on 16 March 2016.
Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the wellbeing goals and associated technical information is available in the Wellbeing of Wales report.
Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The statistics included in this release could also provide supporting narrative to the national indicators and be used by public services boards in relation to their local wellbeing assessments and local wellbeing plans.
Feedback
We welcome feedback on these statistics. Please use the contact details below to provide feedback.