Staffing levels need to be strengthened if the Government is to cope with increasing demand for social services, an annual report has revealed.

The publication from the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors for 2025 showed “key achievements” including expansion of mental health support and youth development programming.

However, it also disclosed that demands continued to rise with “complexity cases” increasing, while the summary of the report declared “system pressure remains consistent”.

It added that the ministry was responding through programme expansion, co-ordinated service delivery, strategic infrastructure investment and continued policy development.

Priority areas for 2026 were said to include “strengthening staffing capacity, improving service timelines, expanding system co-ordination, [and] building stronger data and reporting systems”.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said: “The demand on our social systems is increasing and the complexity of cases we are seeing continues to grow.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the support we provide keeps pace with that reality.”

She added: “Throughout 2025, the ministry maintained continuity of essential services while advancing important reforms across our programme areas.

“This report provides an opportunity for the public to see the progress made, understand the challenges we continue to address and consider the work ahead.”

The report also provided content for the ministry’s 2026-27 budget of $97.27 million, representing a 7 per cent increase over the 2025-26 fiscal year.

A spokeswoman said: “The continued investment focuses on critical services, system co-ordination and infrastructure that support Bermuda’s most vulnerable populations throughout their lives.

“Throughout 2025, the ministry strengthened legislative protections, expanded services and advanced co-ordinated responses in areas including child protection, youth development, domestic abuse, disability services, homelessness, financial assistance and senior care.”

The annual report contained figures for foster care and stated: “Case complexity continues to increase, particularly in areas involving mental health and behavioural support.”

The number of children supported was 68 — an increase of seven from the previous year with a budget of $2.63 million for 2026-27.

Under a section on residential treatment services, the report stated: “Trauma-responsive care environments continued to strengthen through updated policies aligned with accreditation standards.

“An external assessment is under way to guide future service planning and capacity development.”

Also contained in the report was information about the overseas therapeutic programme, which supports children whose needs cannot currently be met locally.

It documented that 17 children were supported by the service with “high clinical complexity” and the budget for 2026-27 was $2.55 million.

A section of the report referenced the litigation guardian framework.

The Royal Gazettereported last month that none of the ten children in care who were sent overseas by the Family Court in 2024 and 2025 had an independent social worker to voice their views during the legal proceedings.

In response to a public access to information request, the fact was shared by the Department of Child and Family Services, which asked the court to order that the vulnerable youngsters go off the island for therapeutic assessment and services unavailable locally.

Its disclosure said that two of the children in care had legal representation.

However, records released did not show if the court considered whether to appoint advocates, known as litigation guardians, for the children before they were sent thousands of miles from home to youth residential treatment facilities as part of the DCFS’s overseas therapeutic programme.

The Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors and the DCFS said then that they were “not legally responsible for deciding who has a litigation guardian” as it was a matter for the court to determine.

“The ministry and department work hard to keep this separate,” a ministry statement said last month.

“This protects the independence of the courts and the litigation guardians, and helps avoid conflicts of interest.

The annual report released this week said: “The ministry continued development of a sustainable litigation guardian framework for children and vulnerable adults involved in court proceedings.”

It added: “The DCFS will continue strengthening child-centred practice, expanding therapeutic interventions, improving safeguarding systems and reducing delays in service delivery.

“Priority will also be given to workforce capacity, placement stability and ensuring that children receive timely support aligned with their individual needs.”