Birth mothers and compulsory removal of infants

Dr Karen Broadhurst

Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Social Science Lancaster University

Professor Judith Harwin

Director of the Child Focused Research Centre - Social Work University of Brunel:    

This year's Family Justice Council 6th Annual Debate focused on birth mothers who appear and re-appear before the courts following successive pregnancies only to find infants once again removed on a permanent basis. Bringing together academics practitioners and policy makers the debate raised questions about whether this group of birth mothers are being failed by national agencies who ought to do more to respond to this group of women as 'vulnerable adults'. Given the dearth of published research with this focus the range of speakers brought invaluable insights from pilot studies and regional practice initiatives. Challenging questions were posed about the responsibilities of agencies post care and adoption proceedings given the complexity of mothers' rehabilitation needs. Whilst the focus of the debate might be considered to 'swim up-stream' against a national agenda focused on the plight of infants...

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