Experts have raised concerns that a rise in the number of babies entering care proceedings could lead to unnecessary adoptions. They say improved support for families might have prevented some babies from being taken into care in the first place.
The warning centres on cases involving babies whose care is being considered through legal proceedings. Evidence given to an investigation suggested that some of these cases may have been avoided if families had received more effective help at an earlier stage.
The experts’ concerns focus on whether enough support is available before decisions are made about removing babies from their families. Their position is that assistance for parents and carers could, in some circumstances, reduce the need for babies to enter the care system.
The issue raises wider questions about how care proceedings involving very young children are handled and whether families are receiving the help they need before intervention becomes necessary. However, the supplied material does not provide figures, details of individual cases, dates, locations or responses from authorities.
No further developments or proposed changes are identified in the material available.