Born into care: newborns and infants in care proceedings in Wales

Alrouh, Bachar and Broadhurst, Karen and Cusworth, Linda and Griffiths, Lucy and Johnson, Rhodri D and Akbari, Ashley and Ford, David (2019) Born into care: newborns and infants in care proceedings in Wales. [Report]

Text (Born into care Wales - main report)
Born_into_care_Wales_-_main_report_English_final.pdf - Published Version
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Abstract

Newborn babies are entirely dependent on their caregivers for their safety and well-being. In cases where an infant is identified as being at risk of suffering significant harm from one or both parents, a decision may be made to issue care proceedings at birth under Section 31 of the 1989 Children Act. The Act provides a framework within which the family court can make a court order authorising the removal of an infant from his or her parents. Removal at, or soon after, birth presents particular challenges for professionals and is highly distressing for birth mothers, birth fathers and wider family networks. Although frontline practitioners in Wales will be familiar with cases of infants who are subject to care proceedings, national statistics do not differentiate infants further by age. The purpose of this report is to establish the current pattern of practice, to stimulate discussions with stakeholders and support best practice regarding the very youngest children in the family justice system. There are also implications for pre-birth referral, assessment and child protection conferences, where there are concerns about future risk of harm to an unborn child.