ALMOST a quarter of the children in Inverclyde who are on the ‘at risk’ register are not even born yet.

A new report into the future of children’s services in Inverclyde paints a stark picture of the risks some vulnerable children face – with 22 per cent of them registered before birth.

The number of children who are known to social services and deemed in need of protection has soared in a year.

The director of health and social care has also revealed that more than half of all the children deemed to be at risk are under the age of five.

One of the prime reasons for this is the amount of local parents in Inverclyde  suffering from mental health problems.
In her report, top health and care official Louise Long said: “We recognise that our most vulnerable and at risk children and young people continue to require support at an early stage and in a timely manner. 

“In times of reduced budgets, prevention, early intervention and sustaining positive change is now more important than ever, and is key to not only making a real difference to the lives of children and families, but also to delivering the budget reductions all partners will need to deliver over the lifespan of this plan.”

Most of the children on the child protection register are there due to domestic abuse, with parental mental health problems and alcohol or drug misuse also big factors in a number of cases.

The total number of children on the register surged from 26 in 2014 to 42 children in 2015.

The new report also recognises the huge impact that poverty plays in children’s futures.

Child poverty remains high in Inverclyde and above the national average of one in four.

Almost 30 per cent of children live in families with the lowest income, the highest percentage in the Greenock East area. 

In her report Ms Long added: “Child health and wellbeing is also affected by household income and employment status of parents.

“Children in lone parent families and non-working lone parents families are more likely to have lower mental wellbeing.

“Inverclyde has both a high percentage of lone parent families and lone parents who are not in employment."