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Alarming Rise in Babies Entering Care Proceedings
6 Oct
Summary
- Care proceedings for infants have surged 64% in two decades.
- Many babies may not need care if timely support was available.
- New guidance aims to reduce short-notice hearings for newborns.
New figures reveal that care proceedings for infants in England are at a persistently high level. Data indicates a significant 64% rise in these proceedings over the past two decades, affecting one in 118 infants. The statistics show a peak during the Covid period, followed by a slight decrease and subsequent plateauing.
Experts suggest that many babies might have avoided entering the care system if sufficient support had been available to their families. This is particularly concerning given that very young children in care have a higher likelihood of adoption. As such, there are worries that some infants may have been permanently separated from their birth families without absolute necessity.
In response to these concerns, new guidance for Family Court judges is expected before the end of the year. This guidance aims to substantially decrease the number of short-notice care hearings that occur within hours or days of a baby's birth.
