out 474,000 in 2015–16 to 715,000 in 2023–34) and were 23% of all initial contacts in SP9. Figure 12: Summary of initial contacts by source as a proportion of all contacts Source: SP9 respondents. The England number is extrapolated from 103 local authority responses based on the proportion of the England population. One of the strengths of the ADCS Safeguarding Pressures research is the ability to ask local authorities to describe their activity in a more holistic way than is currently represented in the main statutory data returns. This significant volume of activity is not captured in national returns and these data, which offer a unique glimpse into front-door activity, evidence an increased demand for support from local authorities, in the form of initial contacts, particularly by multi-agency partners. Further, this suggests that much of this demand is being managed through an increased early help offer and by local authorities acting as a central point for offering information, advice and signposting to other services on behalf of the local partnership. This aligns with the model of early help promoted by initiatives, such as Supporting Families and family hubs, where the need for a range of agencies to work together is identified, but the local authority generally takes the lead role in coordinating this activity. This new reality may go some way to explain the gap between the majority of survey respondents reporting increased levels of safeguarding activity and the broadly stable numbers of Children in Need or child protection plans seen in recent years. 13% 36% 13% 9% 28% 16% 32% 17% 9% 26% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Education Police Health Parent/carer/family member/child or young person All other Phase 5 2015–16 Phase 9 2023–24 44 Table 5: Initial cont