Halton Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2014

Population and Socio-

economic

Profile of Children & Young

People living in Halton

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Reader Information Author Diane Lloyd

Sharon McAteer Katherine Woodcock

Contributors Craig Pool Jennifer Oultram James Watson

Reviewer Sharon McAteer

Number of pages

27

Date release April 2014

Description This document constitutes chapter 2 of the 2014 Children’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Halton. It describes the local population of children and young people, as well as the social and economic circumstances in which they live.

Superseded documents

none

Contact Sharon.mcateer@halton.gov.uk

Related documents

See all JSNA chapters Child Poverty Strategy

Please quote the JSNA We would like to know when and how the JSNA is being used. One way, is to ask people who use the JSNA when developing strategies, service reviews and other work to quote the JSNA as their source of information.

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Contents 1. Key findings ............................................................................................................ 5

2. Population Profile ................................................................................................... 6

2.1. Overall Population size and structure .............................................................. 6

2.2. Number of Children and Young People in Halton ............................................ 7

2.3. Population projections ..................................................................................... 7

2.4 Ethnicity ............................................................................................................ 8

2.5. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender ........................................................ 9

2.6. Life expectancy at birth .................................................................................... 9

2.7. Disabilities ..................................................................................................... 10

3. Income and Unemployment ................................................................................. 11

3.1 Levels of Deprivation ...................................................................................... 11

3.2 Unemployment ................................................................................................ 11

3.3. Youth unemployment ..................................................................................... 12

3.4. Benefits .......................................................................................................... 13

3.5. Lone parent families ...................................................................................... 13

3.6. Adult Skill levels ............................................................................................. 15

4. Social Circumstances ........................................................................................... 16

4.1. Fuel Poverty................................................................................................... 16

4.2. Housing ......................................................................................................... 17

4.3. Foodbanks ..................................................................................................... 17

5. Child Poverty ........................................................................................................ 20

5.1. Children living in low income families ............................................................ 20

5.2. Children living in households claiming out-of-work benefits ........................... 21

5.3 Free School Meals .......................................................................................... 22

5.4 Other child poverty indicators ......................................................................... 22

6. Vulnerable Groups ............................................................................................... 24

6.1. Domestic Violence ......................................................................................... 24

6.2. Children as carers .......................................................................................... 24

6.3. Vulnerable Children ....................................................................................... 25

6.4. Inspiring Families ........................................................................................... 25

7. Further information ............................................................................................... 26

References ............................................................................................................... 27

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Figures Figure 1: Halton 2012 Population Profile _________________________________________________________ 6 Figure 2: Population projections, Halton 0-25 year age bands, 2011 to 2021 ____________________________ 7 Figure 3: Gypsy and travellers caravans in Halton __________________________________________________ 8 Figure 4: Life expectancy at birth, males and females ______________________________________________ 10 Figure 5: Percentage of working age adults claiming Job Seekers Allowance, Halton January 2014, by electoral ward _____________________________________________________________________________________ 11 Figure 6: Monthly trend in percentage of working age adults claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Halton, January 2013 to January 2014 _______________________________________________________________________ 12 Figure 7: Percentage of young people NEET, 2011 and 2012 ________________________________________ 12 Figure 8: Percentage of children resident in Halton wards living in households claiming council tax or housing benefits, 2012 _____________________________________________________________________________ 13 Figure 9: Number of Halton lone parents claiming working age benefits, August 2013, by electoral ward ____ 15 Figure 10: Percentage of households in each ward with no central heating, Halton, 2011 Census ___________ 16 Figure 11: Child Poverty Indicator, children living in low-income families, Halton electoral wards, 2011/12 ___ 20 Figure 12: Correlation between child poverty and deprivation _______________________________________ 21

Tables

Table 1: Halton population breakdown by age group 2012 6 Table 2: Halton 2012 Population Profile age 0-19 7 Table 2: Estimated ethnic group by age band, 2012. 8 Table 3: prevalence of children with long-standing illness, disability or infirmity 10 Table 3: Lone parent numbers and percentage of total households, Halton, 2011 Census 13 Table 4: Employment status of lone parents, 2011 Census, Halton and comparators 14 Table 5: Fuel poverty in 2011 16 Table 6: Number of Children living in Out of Work Benefit Claimant Households at May 2012, by age group and type of benefit. 21 Table 7: Child Poverty Indicators, excluding those relating to income 23

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1. Key findings

There are an estimated 31,200 children and young people aged 0 to 19 living in Halton (2012 mid-year estimate).

The proportion aged 1 to 14 is slightly higher than the England and Wales average.

The number aged 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 are projected to increase by 16% and 11% respectively. However the 15 to 19 year age group is forecast to decrease by 9%.

In terms of ethnicity, Halton’s 0-19 year old population is largely white (96.8%).

Halton is the 27th most deprived local authority area in England (out of 326);26% of Halton’s population live in areas that fall in the top 10% most deprived nationally.

Youth employment in 18 to 24 year olds is higher in Halton (9.1%) than the North West and England.

8.9% of 16 to 18 year olds in Halton are not in education, employment or training (NEET); this is higher than the North West and England averages.

In 2012, 36.9% of children aged 0 to 15 in Halton were living in families in receipt of council tax or housing benefit.

Using a new government definition of fuel poverty, 9.6% of Halton residents are fuel poor. This is lower than the regional and national average.

Food banks are in operation in Halton. Between April and June 2013, 753 vouchers were issued; the main reason was related to benefit changes or delays and 24% of were to single parent families.

In January 2013, 29% of pupils were receiving free school meals in Halton.

A local assessment in 2011 found that around a third of households were in debt and a further quarter had no savings.

27.3% of children aged under 16 in Halton were living in poverty in 2011/12.

As at January 2014 there were 157 children on the Child Protection Register and 200 children in care.

There are 375 troubled families in Halton (known locally as “Inspiring Families”).

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2. Population Profile

2.1. Overall Population size and structure Since 2001, the population of Halton has increased steadily to the current estimate of 125,700 (2012). During 2012 there were 1,661 live births in Halton compared to 1,571 in 2011 and 1,667 in 2010. The maternity chapter has further details of births in Halton. Table 1 shows the overall population breakdown by age. Table 1: Halton population breakdown by age group 2012

Total 0-15 16-64 65+

Halton 125,700 24,900 81,200 19,600 Source: 2012 Office for National Statistics Mid-Year Population Estimates

Figure 1 shows how the population profile for males and females in Halton compares with the profile for England & Wales. Figure 1: Halton 2012 Population Profile

1

The Halton profile matches the general shape of that for England & Wales. A few key points, showing comparisons with the England & Wales profile, are highlighted below: Halton has a higher proportion of:

Older working age adults, aged 50-64

Children and young people, aged 1-14

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Halton has a lower proportion of:

younger working age adults age 20-34

older people age 65+

2.2. Number of Children and Young People in Halton In terms of children and young people 31,200 are between the ages of 0 and 19 in Halton (2012 mid-year estimate). Between 2007 and 2012 the biggest increase was observed in the 1-4 year age group and the biggest decrease was observed in the 15-19 year age group. The following table shows the breakdown by age for 0-19 years since 2007. Table 2: Halton 2012 Population Profile age 0-19

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

< 1 Year 1,600 1,700 1,600 1,700 1,700 1,600

1-4 6,100 6,300 6,500 6,600 6,600 6,700

5-9 8,800 8,800 8,800 9,000 9,100 7,700

10-14 7,900 7,800 7,700 7,600 7,600 7,400

15-19 8,600 8,500 8,500 8,300 8,100 7,800

Total 33,000 33,100 33,100 33,200 33,100 31,200 Office of National Statistics, 2013

2.3. Population projections Population projections are a vital source of information for future service planning. Estimates from the 2011 Census indicate that there were 31,424 people aged 0-19 in the borough in 2013 (40,833 people aged 0-25 years). By 2021 this is projected to rise slightly to 32,562 (40,605 aged 0-25 years). These are interim 2011-based sub national population projections and are an indication of the future trends in population by age and sex over the next 10 years. They are trend-based projections, which mean assumptions for future levels of births, deaths and migration are based on observed levels mainly over the 2006 to 2010 period. As Figure 1 shows it is the 5-9 year old cohort that will see the biggest increase over this time with the 20 to 25 population projected to fall over the same period.

Figure 2: Population projections, Halton 0-25 year age bands, 2011 to 2021

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2.4 Ethnicity Data from the 2011 Census shows that Halton’s 0-19 age population, in line with the population as a whole, has a smaller proportion of non-white people than the England average. The 0-19 population is 96.8% white. The largest single Black & Minority Ethnic group is mixed/multiple group at 2.2% of the population. There were an estimated 1,046 Black & Minority Ethnic children in the borough, including Irish and Gypsy or Irish Travellers in 2012. A detailed breakdown by age groups is outlined in Table 4, using the 2012 population estimates. Table 3: Estimated ethnic group by age band, 2012.

In terms of ethnicity the borough has a largely white population of 96.8%.2 According to the January 2013 School Census published by the Department for Education 1.1% (number = 88) of primary school, 0.9% (number = 67) of secondary school and 1.2% (number = 3)of special school pupils have a main language that is not English. Local intelligence shows that the main language spoken in Halton schools, other than English is Polish. It also indicates that this is an emerging issue due to recent economic migration. The latest available figures for July 2012 show that Halton had a total of 78gypsy and traveller caravans3. The chart below shows the total number has remained similar since January 2010 Figure 3: Gypsy and travellers caravans in Halton

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2.5. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender There are currently no reliable estimates of the size of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) population in Great Britain. Sexual orientation has not previously been asked in a decennial census in Britain (2011 was the first time) and the surveys that currently ask about sexual orientation have not been designed to provide national estimates of the LGB population. The Department of Trade & Industry suggests a figure of 5-7% of the population4. However, more recent data from the Integrated Household Survey puts the figure lower. The 2010/11 survey states that 1.5% of adults in the United Kingdom identified themselves as Gay/Lesbian or Bisexual.5 This tally’s with the 2011 Census. Studies of this nature suffer from methodological flaws and so are used here as an indication and taken as a range of possible prevalence rates. Using the ONS 2013 population estimate of young people aged 12-19, (12,121) would give an estimated local LGB population of 327, based on 2.7% prevalence rate (range 182 – 849:1.5% = 182, 2.7% = 327, 5% = 606, 7% = 849). The upper limit may be an overestimation if the Halton picture is similar to that revealed by research in the North East of England. It found experience of discrimination lead many LGB people to move away to cities with established and visible LGB ‘scene’; cities, where discrimination was perceived to be less6. Conversely, the category of ‘don’t know’ or refused to answer in national surveys may indicate a level of under reporting, especially amongst those who have not revealed their sexual orientation to family and friends.

Information on the transgender population is even more difficult to determine. A recent study carried out in primary care units in Scotland which estimated the prelevance in men over 15 years at 1:12,400, with an approximate sex ratio of one to four in favour of male to female patients. These studies suggest that in this country there are between 1,300 and 2,000 male to female and between 250 and 400 female to male transsexual people. Press for Change [a national trans campaigning organisation], however, estimate the figures at around 5,000 post-operative transsexual people.” Using either estimate gives a very crude estimate of 3-4 Halton’s young people being transgender.

2.6. Life expectancy at birth Life expectancy refers to the average length of time people can expect to live. It is a useful summary indicator of the mortality and health of a nation, an area, or a group of people. Definition7 Average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply. Overall life expectancy has increased over the last 20 years, locally and nationally. Unfortunately the gap that existed between Halton and England in 1991/93 has widened slightly over this period for both men and women, as Figure 4 shows.

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Figure 4: Life expectancy at birth, males and females

There are also internal inequalities. The latest data has been calculated using the Primary Care Mortality Database for the years 2009-13. It shows that, at ward level, Halton life expectancy at birth ranges from 70.7 years for males In Windmill Hill to 82.9 years in Birchfield, a difference of 12.2 years. For females the range is 75.8 years in Riverside to 93.4 years in Birchfield, a difference of 17.6 years.

2.7. Disabilities The Family Resources Survey 2007/08,8 estimated that nationally between 4% and 7% of young people have a long-standing illness, disability or infirmity and experience significant difficulty with day-to-day activities. The variation is by age and gender. Table 6 applies these percentages to the local resident populations aged up to 19 years (based on 2013 population estimates).

Table 4: prevalence of children with long-standing illness, disability or infirmity

Further breakdowns of disabilities can be found in the Disabilities & Complex health Needs chapter of the JSNA.

DESCRIPTION NATIONAL PREVALENCE HALTON

Long-standing illness, disability or infirmity aged 0-15

7% males; 4% females

876 males 493 females

Long-standing illness, disability or infirmity aged 16-18

6% males; 5% females

104 males 80 females

TOTALS 1,553

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3. Income and Unemployment

3.1 Levels of Deprivation According to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2010 Halton is the 27th most deprived local authority area in England (out of 326)9. The IMD is made up of 7 domains which contribute to the overall score. These domains include employment, income, health deprivation and disability, education and skills, crime and disorder, living environment and barriers to housing and services. A more in depth analysis of the IMD shows that 21 of Halton’s LSOAs fell in the top 10% most deprived nationally. Of these 21, 10 fell in the top 3% and 2 fell in the top 1%. This means that 26% of Halton’s population live in areas that fall in the top 10% most deprived nationally, more than the national figure (10%) but lower than the Liverpool City Region figure (31%)10.

3.2 Unemployment As of January 2014 the Job Seeker’s Allowance unemployment rate in Halton was 4.1% (3,233 claimants). This is ranked 37th highest out of 326 Local Authorities and remains higher than regional (3.4%) and national rates (2.9%). A further breakdown of this data is available by ward (Figure 5). An analysis shows that Windmill Hill has the highest rate (9.3%) followed by Halton Lea (7.1%) and Halton Castle (6.4%). Figure 5: Percentage of working age adults claiming Job Seekers Allowance, Halton January 2014, by electoral ward

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An analysis of the unemployment rate for Halton compared to regional and national trends from January 2013 to January 2014 shows that whilst Halton’s rate has decreased from 5.2% to 4.1% a significant gap still exists between Halton, the North West and England. Figure 6: Monthly trend in percentage of working age adults claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Halton, January 2013 to January 2014

3.3. Youth unemployment This is also a particular issue for the borough, with an unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds of 8.6%, as at January 2014i. Although this has fallen over the last year, the rate remains higher than England and the North West. In addition 8.9% of 16-18 year olds are Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET), compared to 6.4% in the North West and 5.7% in Englandiifor 2012. Levels of NEET have fallen in recent years and incomplete, unverified 2013 data suggests this fall has continued. Figure 7: Percentage of young people NEET, 2011 and 2012

2011 2012

Number NEET Rate Number NEET Rate

Halton 480 10.3 400 8.9

North West 18,080 7.1 15,920 6.4

England 108,490 6.1 100,040 5.7

Source: Department for Education 2013

The percentage of working age people claiming out of work benefits (also known as worklessness) is 16.2%. This compares to 13.8% for the North West and 10.9% for England. In some areas of the borough rates are significantly above the borough average e.g. Windmill Hill (33.5%), Halton Lea (27.4%) and Halton Castle (26.5%).

iUnemployment summary; Office for National Statistics iiUnemployment summary; Department for Education

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3.4. Benefits Overall in 2012, 36.9% of children aged 0-15 in Halton were living in families in receipt of council tax or housing benefit. Figure 8 illustrates the distribution across all wards in Halton. Figure 8: Percentage of children resident in Halton wards living in households claiming council tax or housing benefits, 2012

3.5. Lone parent families The 2011 Census showed that there were 20,069 lone parents in Halton, making up 16.1% of total households. Table 5: Lone parent numbers and percentage of total households, Halton, 2011 Census

Number Percentage

All categories: Household composition 124,874 100.0

Lone parent: One dependent child 6,635 5.3

Lone parent: Two or more dependent children 8,276 6.6

Lone parent: All children non-dependent 5,158 4.1

Lone parent: Total 20,069 16.1

Source: Nomis, 2014

Figure 9 shows that 6 electoral wards had a percentage of lone parents statistically higher than the borough average which itself is higher than the North West and England averages. 7 wards have levels statistically lower than the borough average.

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Figure 9: Percentage of lone parent households with dependant children in each ward, 2011 Census

Nationally, the Labour Force Survey 201111 shows that there were nearly 2.0 million lone parents with dependent childreniii in the UK in 2011, and that this number has grown steadily from 1.7 million in 2001. Lone parents with dependent children represented 26 per cent of all families with dependent children in 2011, an increase of two percentage points since 2001. In 2011, women accounted for 92 per cent of lone parents with dependent children and men accounted for 8 per cent of lone parents with dependent children. These percentages have changed little since 2001. Women are more likely to take the main caring responsibilities for any children when relationships break down, and therefore become lone parents. According to the 2011 Census there were 5,350 lone parent households with dependant children. 24.6% of lone parent families in Halton were in full time employment with a further 29.4% in part time employment. These percentages were slightly lower than the North West and England averages with a higher percentage unemployed, at 45.9% compared to 40-5-40.6%. Women, made up nearly 90% of lone parent households. Table 6: Employment status of lone parents, 2011 Census, Halton and comparators

iii Dependent children are those living with their parent(s) and either (a) aged under 16, or (b) aged 16 to 18 in

full-time education, excluding children aged 16 to 18 who have a spouse, partner or child living in the household.

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Figures from the Department of Works and Pensions for 2011/12 show that there were 800 lone parent families in Halton claiming Child Tax Credits. Of 15,850 working age claimants as at August 2013, 1545 per lone parents. There were wide ward level variations from 5 to 145 as Figure 10 shows. Figure 10: Number of Halton lone parents claiming working age benefits, August 2013, by electoral ward

3.6. Adult Skill levels According to the Annual Population Survey January 2012- December 2012 12.1% of the adult population in Halton had no qualifications. This compares to an England average of 9.5%. Only 24.5% of adults were qualified to NVQ level 4 or above compared to an England average of 34.2%.

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4. Social Circumstances

4.1. Fuel Poverty A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory heating regime (usually 21 degrees for the main living area and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms). The government has recently set out a new Low Income High Costs (LIHC) definition of fuel poverty; the latest figures for 2011 show that 9.6% of Halton households were classed as being “fuel poor”. This is lower than the regional and national averages. A full breakdown for Halton, the North West and England is shown in the table below: Table 7: Fuel poverty in 2011

2011

Number of households

Number of households in fuel poverty

% of households fuel poor

Halton 51,423 4,951 9.6%

North West 2,982,324 372,332 12.5%

England 21,918,363 2,390,053 10.9%

Source: Department of Energy and Climate Change

Figure 11 shows the percentage of households with no central heating. Due to housing improvement programmes and energy efficiency campaigns the vast majority of housing now has central heating installed. However there are still some properties that do not. The highest proportion of these is located in the Riverside and Appleton wards in Widnes. Figure 11: Percentage of households in each ward with no central heating, Halton, 2011 Census

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4.2. Housing Halton’s housing stock can be characterised by a relatively high proportion of social rented properties (around 25%), resulting from the development and subsequent transfer of housing in Runcorn’s New Town estates, and a private sector skewed towards lower value, semi-detached and terraced homes. More recently the Borough has witnessed a dramatic growth in the private rented sector, from only 4% of the total housing stock at the time of the 2001 Census to 10%. It is thought that this is due to limited mortgage availability and long waiting lists for social housing fuelling demand for the sector, together with the availability of Buy to Let mortgages and concept of housing as a long term investment fuelling supply. The stock profile in Halton is skewed towards lower value properties, with 68% of dwellings in Council Tax Bands A or B. Analysis of Council Tax Band by ward reveals that the lowest value stock is concentrated in the wards containing the highest proportions of social housing. Higher value properties are concentrated in Birchfield, Daresbury and Hale wards. The Halton Strategic Housing Market Assessment 201112 collected a range of information

regarding the housing needs of families. In summary, the findings were that:

The Housing Survey estimates that there are 15,425 households with children in the Borough. Of these, 3,823 households (24.8%), are lone parents, some 35.0% are families with one child aged under 16, and the remaining 40.2% are larger households (with two or more children).

At 35% of households have dependent children, this is higher than for Mid-Mersey, North West and England.

82% of married couples with dependant children live in owner occupied properties. This compares to 60.8% of cohabiting couples and only 27.6% of lone parents.

Lone parents are most likely to live in social rented accommodation, 56.3%.

Between 9.8% to 13.5% of households with children are living in unsuitable housing. Percentages vary by family type and size with rates being highest for lone parent families.

Households with dependent children are significantly more likely than other households to be overcrowded (negative occupancy rating), although this varies tremendously for different household groups.

The data shows that household groups with two or more adults have incomes well in excess of the Borough average at over £30,000 compared to the average of just under £19,000 (2010 Housing Survey). The average lone parent income is very low (just over £10,000 per annum).

4.3. Health Impacts of Fuel Poverty and Poor Housing The impacts of fuel poverty and poor housing on a person’s health may be direct or indirect. Poor housing encompasses the construction of buildings, standards and environmental aspects of location. All are potential stressors to the physical and mental health of individuals. Securing improvements in housing stock provides for a potentially significant positive effect on population health.

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Figure 12: Housing Quality and Health

Adapted from Green & Pugh 201013

A review of the evidence together with interventions to address the impacts on health was carried out by Halton’s Public Health Team in 201114. Table 8 summarises the findings. The evidence suggests all these are applicable to children as well as adults.

Table 8: Summary of the Impact of Housing on Health

Direct effects

Indirect effects

Poor housing contributes to a range of physical conditions, including influenza, tuberculosis, some cancers and respiratory conditions arising from insufficient ventilation and indoor pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and radon.

The inability to heat homes adequately, because of low income, poor design or poor insulation, contributes to temperature-related deaths in winter, not just through hypothermia but also increased susceptibility to coronary and cerebral thrombosis and respiratory disease. About 10% of the population are classified as ‘fuel poor’. It particularly affects families with young children and pensioners.

Poor quality housing and overcrowding are associated with a range of problems – such as stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia – which affect mental health.

The cumulative effects of living in a poor, stressful and uncongenial setting reduce levels of resistance to physical and mental illness.

This cumulative stress may also affects resident’s ability to follow treatment plans for existing conditions, exacerbating their and their children’s ill health.

Apparently ‘unhealthy’ habits may be adopted, some of which may be coping strategies rather than a freely exercised choice of lifestyle.

Living in ‘not decent’ homes can affects children’s educational attainment, access to balanced nutrition and development. For those with disabilities it can reduce their life opportunities.

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4.3. Foodbanks In response to growing concern about the impact of poverty the Trussell Trust foodbanks have been set up to provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK. In 2012/13 foodbanks fed 346,992 people nationwide. Of those helped, 126,889 were children. Rising food and fuel prices, static incomes, underemployment and changes to benefits are some of the reasons why increasing numbers are being referred to foodbanks for emergency food. The Trussell Trust partners with churches and communities to open new foodbanks nationwide. With almost 400 foodbanks currently launched, their goal is for every town to have one15. Foodbanks have been operating in Halton since the end of 2012.The latest figures for 1st April – 30th June 2013 show that a total of 753 vouchers were issued across the two foodbank sites (one in Widnes and one in Runcorn)iv,v during this time. Of these 98 (13%) were issued to families and 182 (24%) were issued to single parent families. The most common crisis types were due to benefit changes or benefit delays. In Widnes, the wards receiving the greatest number of vouchers were Riverside and Broadheath and in Runcorn it was Norton South and Grange.

iv http://widnes.foodbank.org.uk/

v http://runcorn.foodbank.org.uk/

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5. Child Poverty The Child Poverty Act 2010 uses four measures to define child poverty: • Relative income: household income less than 60 per cent of current median income; • Combined low income and material deprivation: children who experience material deprivation and live in households with incomes less than 70 per cent of current median income; • Absolute income: household income less than 60 per cent of 2010/11 median income adjusted for prices; and, • Persistent poverty: household income less than 60 per cent of current median income for at least three out of the previous four years. The indicator used to measure child poverty is defined as the percentage of children under the age of 16 living in families in receipt of out of work benefits or tax credits. In Halton this means there were 27.3% of children living in poverty in 2011/12.

5.1. Children living in low income families Figure 13 shows the percentage of children under 16 years of age who live in a low income family by ward for 2011/12. The data shows that of Halton’s 21 wards, 14 are above the England average with Windmill Hill and Halton Castle being almost double that of the national figure. Nine wards are also above the Halton average. Figure 13: Child Poverty Indicator, children living in low-income families, Halton electoral wards, 2011/12

Further analysis of these results against deprivation shows that there is a strong positive relationship between children who live in a low income family and deprivation at LSOA level. This is illustrated in the following chart.

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Figure 14: Correlation between child poverty and deprivation

5.2. Children living in households claiming out-of-work benefits As at May 2012 there were 6,800 children aged under 16 and 7,700 children aged under 19

who were living in households claiming out-of-work benefits. Table 4 provides a further

breakdown by age bands.

Table 9: Number of Children living in Out of Work Benefit Claimant Households at May 2012, by age group and type of benefit.

During 2011/12 there were 7,600 children living in families in receipt of out-of-work benefits

and 7,300 children living in families in receipt of working tax credits and/or child tax credit

Working Tax Credit (WTC) provides in-work support for people on low incomes, including

those who are aged at least 16 and are responsible for a child or young person.

Child Tax Credit (CTC) brings together income-related support for children and for qualifying

young people aged 16-19 who are in full time non-advanced education or approved training

into a single tax credit, payable to the main carer. Families can claim whether or not the

adults are in-work.

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5.3 Free School Meals In England a free school meal is a statutory benefit available to school aged children from families who receive other qualifying benefits and who have been through the relevant registration process. A full list of eligible benefits is available at: www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals. The January 2013 School Census showed that the total number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals was 5,701 pupils:

Primary school 3204 or 31.4%

Secondary school 2347 or 29.6%

Special school 127 or 45.7%

Pupil referral unit 23 or 52.3% The percentages are much higher than the North West or England rates. For secondary school aged children the percentage is twice as high as that seen for England as a whole.

On 17 September 2013 the Department for Education announced that all infant school pupils (pupils in reception and years 1 and 2) in state funded schools in England will be eligible for a free school meal from September 2014.

5.4 Other child poverty indicators There are a wide range of additional child poverty indicators, which can be found in other

chapters of the JSNA. Based on the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion Child Poverty

Toolkit16 these are listed in table 10.

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Table 10: Child Poverty Indicators, excluding those relating to income

Education Health

Indicator JSNA chapter Indicator JSNA chapter

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile

Early years Infant mortality

Maternity

Key Stage 2 achievement, including gap overall and FSM

Education & Employment

Low birth weight

G.C.S.E achievement, including gap overall and FSM

Child obesity and underweight

Early Years and school age children

A level achievement, including gap overall and FSM

Life expectancy at birth Population & socio-economic profile

Smoking in pregnancy Maternity

Breastfeeding Maternity and Early years

MMR Early Years

Resources Behaviours that Damage Life Chances

Indicator JSNA chapter Indicator JSNA chapter

Sub-standard housing Population & socio-economic profile

Teenage pregnancy School age children

Access to cars 27% households have no car (2011 Census)

School absence Education & Employment

Children in Care

Availability of childcare Early Years Young offenders Safeguarding

Foodbanks Population & socio-economic profile

Under 18 alcohol-specific admissions to hospital

School age children

Homelessness Population & socio-economic profile

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6. Vulnerable Groups The profile and needs of a wide variety of vulnerable groups are covered in the Safeguarding chapter. Other relevant chapters are Disabilities and Complex Health Needs and Children in Care. This section covers some headline numbers.

6.1. Domestic Violence Data from NSPIS shows that for 2013 there were 633 cases of domestic violence, a reduction on the 2011 figure of 958 incidents of Domestic Violence (NSPIS, 2011). The highest number of incidences were in the Mersey ward with the lowest number in Hale.

Table 11: Domestic Incidents and Domestic Violence by ward, 2013

Further information can be accessed via the Community Safety profiles on the HBC website: http://www3.halton.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/statisticsandcensusinformation/105684/ (See also Safeguarding chapter for further details)

6.2. Children as carers In 2011, there were 177,918 young unpaid carers (5 to 17-years-old) in England and Wales. Of these, 54% were girls and 46% were boys. Within England, the North West had the highest proportion of young carers providing unpaid care at 2.3%vi. (See Safeguarding chapter for further details)

vi

2011 Census, Office for National Statistics

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6.3. Vulnerable Children As at January 2014 there were 157 children on the Child Protection Register and 200 children in care. (See safeguarding and children in care chapters for further details)

6.4. Inspiring Families In 2010 the Prime Minister confirmed his intention to ensure that 120,000 troubled families

are ‘turned around’ by 2015. The Troubled Families Unit has provided criteria for identifying

‘troubled families’. On a basic level these are families that are most likely to live in

households who:

Are involved in crime and anti‐social behaviour (ASB)

Have children not in school

Have an adult on out of work benefits

Cause high costs to the public purse

Local Authorities could identify local measures. In Halton for 12/13 these were

domestic abuse and alcohol for 13/14 we have increased these measures to include

drug misuse, NEET and a child under the age of 5.

Part of the Troubled Families programme, is to put in resources to incentivise and encourage local authorities and their partners to grasp the nettle; to develop new ways of working with families, which focus on lasting change, recognising that these approaches are likely to incur extra costs but that they will result in a shift in the way we work with these families in the future – reducing costs and improving outcomes The initiative is known locally as Inspiring Families Halton and includes 375 families (based on an analysis from the 2005 Family and Children survey using the child welfare index and indicators of multiple deprivation).

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7. Further information Further demographic information is available via the Research and Intelligence page of the Halton Borough Council website: www3.halton.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/statisticsandcensusinformation/ The full JSNA document also provides a more detailed overview of general demographic information. This is available via the link below: www.halton.gov.uk/jsna

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References

1. www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/policyandresources/policyplanningtransportation/researchandintelligence/pdfs/2012PopProfile_Halton.xls

2. 2011 Census (Office for National Statistics) 3. Count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans on 19th January 2012 (Communities and Local Government)

4. Aspinall PJ (2009) Estimating the size and composition of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population in Britain Equality and Human Rights Commission 5. ONS (2011) Integrated Household Survey April 2010 to March 2011 : Experimental Statistics 6. Shewell D and Penn D (2005) Equality and diversity in the North East region of England: a baseline study. Newcastle upon Tyne: NERIP.

7.http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat2006DefinitionsAndMetadata.pdf

8. Department for Works & Pensions (2009) Family Resources Survey United Kingdom 2007-09 http:\\www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/frs

9. Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010(Communities and Local Government) 10. www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/policyandresources/policyplanningtransportation/researchandintelligence/pdfs/IMD2010report.pdf

11 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/family-demography/families-and-households/2011/sum-lone-parents.html

12. http://www3.halton.gov.uk/lgnl/pages/86821/86836/89285/151961/159419/159422/1._Housing/H2/Halton_SHMA/Halton_SHMA.pdf

13. Green G. and Pugh D. (2010) Better Homes, Better Health: Health Impact Assessment of Sheffield’s Housing Strategy Sheffield Hallam University

14. McAteer S. (2011) Housing & Health – Part 1. Evidence review – impact of housing on health and interventions to improve health through housing Halton: Halton & St. Helens PCT

15. http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects

16. www.cesi.org.uk