 This code indicates the main reason why a child started to receive services. It should not be left blank. Only one reason can be recorded. If a child is also looked after, the primary need code for children in need might not necessarily be the same as that recorded in the children looked after data collection. For example, this may occur if a child became looked after at a later date than when they became a child in need. The categories are designed only to identify what kind of pressures are placed on social services. They have no diagnostic value with regard to the children themselves and must not be used to determine what type of service the child should receive. If there is difficulty choosing between two or more categories of need, choose the category that comes highest up in the table, for example, if trying to decide between family in acute stress and family dysfunction, choose family in acute stress. The order of the categories relates to the specificity of the description and not necessarily importance. However, the order is fixed so that there is consistency. Further information on choosing a primary need category is in appendix A. The children in need census for 2005 and earlier tried to account for all money spent in a census week. To allow for this, ‘N9’ was created, but as this census is specifically child based, the definition of ‘N9’ from 2005 is not applicable. As in previous years, ‘N9’ can be used if a child is no longer in need and the only service they are receiving is adoption support (on an open case) immediately after they have been in need. Enter the primary need code, selecting from the table below: Code Category Description N1 Abuse or neglect Children in need as a result of, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; also includes children at risk bec