Born into Care: Towards inclusive guidelines when the State intervenes at birth

Project Dates

September 2019 - August 2022

Funder

The Nuffield Foundation

Project Summary

This research project will devise and test evidence informed guidelines designed to inform best practice when the State intervenes to protect infants at birth, through care proceedings. There are increasing national and international concerns about the volume of new-borns in care proceedings and safe, effective and ethical practice (Born into Care: England and Born into Care: Wales).

The project will take a participatory approach and bring together parents and wider family members as well as policy and practice stakeholders, to ensure the development of the new FJO guidelines follows an inclusive process. The new guidelines need to be closely attuned to the realities of everyday practice as well as child and family needs and experience. The project is being carried out as the first public law Special Interest Project for the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (FJO) (https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk).

It will be delivered by researchers based at the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University and the Rees Centre Oxford University led by Professor Karen Broadhurst, in collaboration with international partners Dr Sarah Wise (University of Melbourne) and Dr Melissa O’Donnell (University of Western Australia). The project has appointed a multi-stakeholder advisory board and a dedicated birth mother advisory group to support this project. Peter Salem (AFCC) and Professor Jane Barlow (University of Oxford) are acting as expert scientific advisors to this project.

A detailed project information sheet is available here.

The 4 stages of the project

The diagram below depicts the 4 stages of the project which will run between 1st of September 2019 and the 31st of August 2022.

Publications

Mason, C., Robertson, L. and Broadhurst, K. (2019) Pre-birth assessment and infant removal at birth: experiences and challenges, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, London. (link)

Mason, C., Robertson, L. and Broadhurst, K. (2019) Pre-birth assessment and infant removal at birth: experiences and challenges, Executive Summary, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, London. (link)

Ryan, M. with Cook, R. (2019) Born into Care: Case Law Review, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, London.

(link)

Research Team

Professor Karen Broadhurst, Principal Investigator, Lancaster University

Claire Mason, Co-Investigator/Research Fellow, Lancaster University

Dr Anna Barnett, Project Officer, Lancaster University

Dr Lisa Holmes, Research Fellow, Rees Centre, Oxford University

Professor Harriet Ward, Consultant, Rees Centre, Oxford University

Dr Sarah Wise, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

Dr Melissa O’Donnell, Research Fellow, University of Western Australia

Advisory Board

Sally Jenkins (Chair), Head Of Children and Families Services, Newport City Council

Rebecca Brione, Research and Partnerships Officer, Birthrights

Angela Frazer Wicks, Co-Chair, Your Family Your Voice

Cathy Ashley, Chief Exec, Family Rights Group

Laura Bridle, Perinatal mental health midwife, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (Royal College of Midwifery rep)

Deborah Woodcock, Director of Operations and Principal Social Worker, Stockport Council

Julie Evans, Senior Midwife, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Early Years Vulnerability Profiling Officer (seconded Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council)

Sir Michael Keehan, QC, High Court Judge             

Lisa Harker, Director, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory

Pam Ledward, Family Rights Group

HHJ Mererid Edwards, Welsh Circuit Judge       

Melissa Van Dyke, International Advisor on Implementation, Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection, Strathclyde University

Naomi Delap, Director, Birth Companions

Helen Harding, Head of Service Early Help, London Borough of Havering (ADCS rep)

Nigel Brown, Chief Executive, Cafcass Cymru

Melanie Carew, Head of Legal, Cafcass

Trudi Seneviratne, Consultant Adult and Perinatal Psychiatrist

Wendy Marsh, Deputy Director of Midwifery, Portsmouth Hospitals Trust                            

Contact

For further information please contact Claire Mason (c.mason@lancaster.ac.uk) or Anna Barnett (anna.barnett@lancaster.ac.uk)