CHILDREN in Britain are facing a “poverty crisis,” with a third of social workers witnessing child removals in the past three years due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Polling by the Social Workers Union (SWU) revealed today that half of social workers believe that child removals where poverty or financial poverty is a key factor have increased in recent years.

A quarter disagreed and the remainder were unsure.

Nine in 10 social workers working with children, young people and families reported an increase in the number of people they support who are in poverty over the past three years.

More than 80 per cent have seen poverty-related case referrals rise during this time, with similar increases in self-referrals.

A social worker from the north-east of England said: “Poverty contributes to wider risk factors, such as poor mental health, substance and alcohol misuse and domestic abuse.

“But rather than money being directly spent on supporting families remaining together, funds are redirected to remove children from parents at a huge expense.”

SWU general secretary John McGowan said that removing a child from their family is always a last resort but is increasingly considered due to the “financial realities of life.”

“Helping vulnerable adults and young people is only possible if a full range of public services are available and well funded,” he said.

“Ministers must own up to the fact that it is only the government that can provide the funding to reverse the decline in public services and ensure the most vulnerable get the support they need.

“Social workers speak out and speak up for the people they support, but if they are not listened to, then the risks to children, young people and adults in need are dangerous and severe.”