The Children in Need (CIN) Census is an annual data collection that covers all children who are referred to children’s social care services, even if no further action is taken. This includes children looked after (CLA), those supported in their families or independently (CSF/I), and children who are the subject of a child protection plan. 

How is the data used?

By collecting information about the numbers and characteristics of children in need who are receiving services from local authority (LA) social services, the Department can analyse the pathways of children who move in and out of the care system over time and the patterns of support they receive.

How is the data collected?

Data is submitted using COLLECT, the Department’s centralised data collection and management system for education.

There has been an important change to the method of access and password administration for COLLECT. There is new system called Secure Access (SA), which provides a single, secure point of entry to departmental IT systems and ensures that the data is protected. SA will also allow users to manage password resets on a self-service basis, without helpdesk assistance.

Changes for 2012–13

Important changes for 2012–13 are:

  • the collection of assessment actual start dates, rather than effective start dates; and
  • the renaming of the initial and core assessment end dates to authorisation date so that the data item name better reflects the data collected.

Please read the census guide for further details.

Important dates

LAs should submit data to the Department between 1 April and 31 July 2013.

If an LA fails to submit its data by 31 July 2013, it may not be included in published figures or used by Ofsted as part of their safeguarding and looked after children inspections.

Support documents

The following support document downloads are available for CIN Census 2012–13:

The following technical tools and specifications are also available:

Contact us

Please use the service request form if you would like to change your contact details, request a COLLECT username and password or make any queries about the CIN Census.

Please use the feedback request form if you have any comments about the content on this web page, the Data Collection Helpdesk service, the COLLECT system or any other aspect of our data collection service.