This week's national review into the death of baby Victoria exposes devastating gaps in support for parents before and after child removal – and calls for exactly the solution we're building.
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has this week published it's review into the death of baby Victoria Marten, finding that parents whose children are removed receive little ongoing support – increasing risk to them, and to their future babies. Victoria was the fifth child born to parents who had all previous children removed, with each pregnancy increasingly concealed.
Among the review's key messages is this:
"Keeping children safe by removing them with just cause from their parents only serves to protect those children. It does not address the root of the problem, and it does not prevent the same set of circumstances from happening again."
The review calls for a coordinated “matrix” of support – trauma-informed, long-term provision to parents that is distinct from statutory safeguarding roles but integrated with children's services – to break cycles of harm. This is exactly what Birth Companions is currently leading work to build.
The National Integrated Care Framework for women and babies with children's social care involvement in the first 1001 days is currently in co-design with experts who have lived and learned experience across social care, health, family and criminal justice systems, domestic abuse and housing. This Framework, which we plan to launch later this year will provide the coordination and focus the review identifies as so critical. It will ensure that when families are involved with children's social care in the first 1001 days, from conception to a child's second birthday, parents and infants receive specialist, holistic, trauma-informed and practical support.
The review's findings validate what Birth Companions knows from 30 years of supporting mothers: compassionate, specialist support, built on strong, trusting and sustained relationships, can and does interrupt cycles of trauma and harm, keeping babies and their families safe.
We're committed to ensuring the new National Integrated Care Framework becomes part of the national response to this serious case review, helping to prevent future tragedies. We look forward to working with policymakers across Government to shape the response to the review’s recommendations.
To discuss Birth Companions work related to children's social care invovlement during the first 1001 days, please get in touch.