“…A key limitation, however, is that we lacked information on parents and siblings. For example, parental mental health problems, alcohol and drug misuse, and having an older sibling previously placed into care are all key features of infant entry into care in England (W. Marsh & Leamon, 2019 ). While almost all infants in our subgroup analyses exited care over follow-up, we had limited information to assess the permanency of these exits over time.…”
Background
The risk of entry to state care during infancy is increasing, both here in England and abroad, with most entering within a week of birth (‘newborns’). However, little is known about these infants or of their pathways through care over early childhood.
Objective
To characterize infant entries to care in England.
Participants and setting
All children in England who first entered care during infancy, between April 2006 and March 2014 (n = 42,000).
Methods
We compared sociodemographic and care characteristics for infants entering care over the study period by age at first entry (newborn: <1wks, older infant 1-51wks). Among those who entered before April 2010, we further characterized care over follow-up (i.e. 4 years from first entry) and employed latent class analysis to uncover any common pathways through care.
Results
Almost 40 % of infants first entered care as a newborn. Most infants first entered care under s 20 arrangements (i.e. out-of-court, 60 % of newborns vs 47 % of older infants). Among infants entering before April 2010, most were adopted over follow-up (60 % vs 37 %), though many were restored to parental care (20 % vs 32 %) or exited care to live with extended family (13 % vs 19 %). One in six infants (17.7 %) had particularly unstable care trajectories over early childhood, typified by three or more placements or failed reunification.
Conclusions
Evidence-based strengthening of pre-birth social work support is needed to improve preventive interventions before birth, to more effectively target infant placement into care. Linkages between child protection records and information on parents are needed to inform preventive strategies.
“…A key limitation, however, is that we lacked information on parents and siblings. For example, parental mental health problems, alcohol and drug misuse, and having an older sibling previously placed into care are all key features of infant entry into care in England (W. Marsh & Leamon, 2019 ). While almost all infants in our subgroup analyses exited care over follow-up, we had limited information to assess the permanency of these exits over time.…”
Background
The risk of entry to state care during infancy is increasing, both here in England and abroad, with most entering within a week of birth (‘newborns’). However, little is known about these infants or of their pathways through care over early childhood.
Objective
To characterize infant entries to care in England.
Participants and setting
All children in England who first entered care during infancy, between April 2006 and March 2014 (n = 42,000).
Methods
We compared sociodemographic and care characteristics for infants entering care over the study period by age at first entry (newborn: <1wks, older infant 1-51wks). Among those who entered before April 2010, we further characterized care over follow-up (i.e. 4 years from first entry) and employed latent class analysis to uncover any common pathways through care.
Results
Almost 40 % of infants first entered care as a newborn. Most infants first entered care under s 20 arrangements (i.e. out-of-court, 60 % of newborns vs 47 % of older infants). Among infants entering before April 2010, most were adopted over follow-up (60 % vs 37 %), though many were restored to parental care (20 % vs 32 %) or exited care to live with extended family (13 % vs 19 %). One in six infants (17.7 %) had particularly unstable care trajectories over early childhood, typified by three or more placements or failed reunification.
Conclusions
Evidence-based strengthening of pre-birth social work support is needed to improve preventive interventions before birth, to more effectively target infant placement into care. Linkages between child protection records and information on parents are needed to inform preventive strategies.
“…They should help practitioners review and reflect on what they have learnt and may be used to provide evidence for the purposes of professional revalidation or accreditation. Our first paper in this section (located towards the back of the issue, along with book reviews) is from Wendy Marsh and Jan Leamon () and explores the issues faced by mothers who have their babies removed at birth. The authors take a sensitive and compassionate approach to exploring the complex grief experienced by mothers in this situation and some of the coping strategies that these mothers can resort to – not all of which will necessarily sit well with professionals whose primary aim is to safeguard the wellbeing of children.…”
Section: New Beginningsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Nevertheless, Marsh and Leamon's paper provides compelling arguments for the importance of understanding what mothers in this situation are going through, and our moral and ethical responsibility to support mothers after the removal of a child. As the authors point out, ‘A woman's desire for a repeat pregnancy in order to replace her baby is common, as is attempting to evade detection from authorities and to keep her baby by not engaging with services’ (Marsh and Leamon, , p. 84).…”
Section: New Beginningsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…‘A woman's desire for a repeat pregnancy in order to replace her baby is common, as is attempting to evade detection from authorities and to keep her baby by not engaging with services’ (Marsh and Leamon, , p. 84).…”
Section: New Beginningsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…They highlight the insights into the experiences of parents and carers involved with statutory services. This book would be a great place to go in exploring further some of the issues identified in Marsh and Leamon's () CPD paper. Finally, Pauline Galluccio () reviews Elaine Storkey's Scars Across Humanity: Understanding and Overcoming Violence Against Women .…”
Section: Domestic Violence and Substance Misuse: Working With Vulneramentioning
Whatever the circumstances, the separation of infants from their mothers at birth is a traumatic experience for all concerned. The paper reports on a study designed to improve practice in this highly sensitive area. An analysis of data collected through semi‐structured interviews with 38 mothers who had experienced removal at birth identified four common themes: isolation and unacknowledged support needs; shame, stigma and the failure of others to acknowledge their maternal identity; acute trauma, immediate downturn and disenfranchised grief following infant removal; and strategies to mitigate their pain and grief. These last themes included the use of artefacts both as transitional objects to help mothers come to terms with the permanent loss of a baby, and as a means of keeping maternal identity alive and connecting with an infant who might eventually return home. In response to these findings, and in collaboration with a group of women with lived experience, HOPE boxes were designed to ameliorate the trauma and psychological burden borne by women in this situation. The contents of the boxes have been chosen to reflect the changing experiences of the women's journeys but also the range of possible potential outcomes. The intervention has considerable potential to minimise the trauma of this painful experience.
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