The number of children in Swansea feared to be at risk of significant harm has risen, with nearly 500 added to the child protection register in 2025/26. Swansea Council said the increase reflected sustained demand and concerns around neglect, domestic abuse, substance and alcohol misuse and family breakdown.
A total of 491 children were added to the Swansea register – indicating they were at risk of significant harm – at various times during 2025/26, compared to 433, 462 and 463 in the preceding three years.
Fluctuating numbers and key concerns
The number fluctuates, and many children were removed from the register during the year, leaving 232 remaining on it on March 31, 2026. This was still higher than at the same point in the previous three years.
An officer told Swansea Council’s child and family services scrutiny panel: “Child protection activity has also been influenced by larger sibling groups, unborn babies and children (aged) under one as well as families experiencing repeated safeguarding concerns.”
A panel report said the largest proportion of new child protection registrations were due to physical abuse concerns, followed by neglect.
Looked-after children numbers fall
Another metric in the report was the number of children in care in Swansea – referred to as looked-after children – which fell for the third year in a row in 2025/26, ending on 473 on March 31. This reflected efforts to keep young people safely within their families.
There was a rise though in children’s residential placements despite the overall fall in looked-after numbers, partly due to a shortage of foster carers. The scrutiny panel heard about foster carer recruitment and retention efforts and work to create more council-run residential homes for children.
“We desperately want to provide our own placements but we are hindered by capacity,” said Cllr Alyson Anthony, cabinet member for children, young people and families.
Referrals and inspections
Overall, the child and family services department dealt with 17,137 contact referrals in 2025-26 from bodies including police, health services and education staff. This was 13% higher than the previous year.
The report said inspection body Care Inspectorate Wales had noted strong areas of work, including with children born into care, as part of a social services “assurance check”.
Child and family services staff received more than 200 compliments in 2025/26, including one that said the support had been life-changing. “If it wasn’t for you, I think I’d still be in the situation, maybe worse by this stage,” it said. “You helped me get my life back.”
