Statistics: Northern Ireland

On this page:

> Children in public care
> Placements
> Adoption Orders as recorded in the Adopted Children Register
> Adoptions from Care
> Sources

Children in public care

• 2,510 children were looked after on 31st March 2011
• 1,042 children started to be looked after during the year ending 31st March 2010
• 908 children ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31st March 2010
• The rate of looked after children per 10,000 under 18 years at 31 March 2011 was 58

Gender

51.6% (1,344) of children looked after on 31st March 2010 were boys and 48.4% (1,262) were girls

Age

• 3% of children (78) looked after on 31st March 2010 were under 1 year old
• 16.9% (441) were aged between 1 and 4 years old
• 30.4% (791) were aged between 5 and 11 years old
• 31.1% (811) were aged between 12 and 15 years old
• 18.6% (485) were aged 16 and over

Placements

• 64.7% (1,687) of children looked after on 31st March 2010 were living with foster carers
• 18.5% (483) were living with their family
• 11% (287) were living in residential care
• 5.7% (149) were living in other types of placements

Adoption Orders as recorded in the Adopted Children Register

• 116 children were adopted during 2010

NB Adoption Order figures include step–parent, relative and overseas adoptions

Adoptions from Care

50 looked after children were adopted in the year ending 31st March 2010

Gender

48% (24) of children adopted during the year ending 31st March 2010 were boys and 52% (26) were girls

Age

The average age at adoption was 4 years 8 months

• 60% (30) of children adopted during the year ending 31st March 2010 were under 4 years old
• 40% (20) were aged 5 and over

Waiting times

50% (25) children were placed for adoption within 12 months of the Best Interest Decision during the year ending 31st March 2010

Foster Carer Adoptions

• 68% (34) of children adopted from care in the year ending March 31st 2010 were adopted by foster carers
• 44% (15) of children adopted by foster carers were boys and 56% (19) were girls

Sources:

Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2009-10
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk

Children Order Statistical Bulletin 2009-10
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk

The Registrar General Northern Ireland Annual Report 2010
www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/

Children's Social Work Statistics 2012 Edition (Scotland but some data in additional tables covers all countries)
www.scotland.gov.uk