Nuffield Family Justice Observatory

Today the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has published a rapid evidence review and a case law review which show the acute pain and stress experienced by both family and practitioners involved in cases where a baby is removed from their mother at birth. 

Many cases in the new reviews demonstrate the effectiveness of the current legal framework in protecting children, but the studies also reveal evidence of inconsistent practice, such as delays and insufficient time for robust pre-birth assessment, misunderstandings of the legal framework or a failure to follow due process, which can lead to insensitive practice or injustice.