Prior to Changing Futures, Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) and the Fulfilling Lives programme used the following definition of Multiple Disadvantage: “people who experience two or more of homelessness, a record of current or historical offending, substance misuse, and mental ill health.”[1] Within Changing Futures, that definition was widened to include domestic violence. I wonder whether that definition needs to be widened again to include 'child removal.' 

During this early stage of working with citizens at CFN, we have become aware that there is a recurring theme of citizens experiencing child removal or loss of contact with their children. This can happen as a result of their experiencing multiple disadvantage or, in some cases has resulted in a relapse in their mental health, addiction or housing issues.

This mirrors the findings of the Still a Mam research conducted by Fulfilling Lives Newcastle Gateshead and Reform earlier this year[1]. In this research, it was found that women facing child removal are more likely to experience worsening mental health and substance misuse and they are often prevented from seeking access to support for these due to the stigma and judgment they experience by having their children removed. Mothers who are struggling with these problems are also reluctant to get help out of fear that their children will be taken away from them. This results in families being separated and worsening outcomes for both mother and child.

Whilst the Still A Mam research (as well as research conducted by AVA and Agenda[2]) focuses on the experiences of mothers facing child removal, we have also observed the impact on men who do not have access to their children. Although the current child removal system focuses more on the mother and can be seen as a gendered issue, there is growing evidence that the impact on fathers can also be incredibly traumatic. Research conducted by the Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF)[3] found that fathers were often excluded from the process and felt unfairly treated as well as experiencing poor mental health and housing issues.

We will continue to monitor this theme of child removal and lack of contact with children as part of a wider theme of families and relationships. Even at this early stage in CFN, it is apparent that citizens experiencing multiple disadvantage are also likely to have experienced child removal, or are currently going through that process. In the same way that domestic violence has been recognised by the Government as a component of multiple disadvantage, we would argue that child removal is an additional problem that is often experienced in conjunction with other problems and should be supported in a similar way.

When a child is reported to be at risk of being removed from their parents, consideration should be given to the additional support needs of the parents. This would go some way to ensuring parents not only get the help they need but may prevent unnecessary child removal which can have a detrimental effect on both the parent and child. Similarly, experiencing multiple disadvantage should not be a barrier to having contact with your children.

By treating the experience of child removal in this way, parents would be able to access support without the need to fear the consequences. People experiencing addiction and mental health issues are often reluctant to seek support in case it “looks bad” or will result in them being deemed unfit to care for their children. Getting help for addiction or mental health (or any other problem for that matter) should be seen as a positive step, not one which results in people experiencing shame and stigma.

[1] Fulfilling Lives: Supporting People Experiencing Multiple Disadvantage | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)
[2] https://www.fulfillinglivesevaluation.org/download/330/newcastle-gateshead/7331/still-a-mam-the-stories-of-women-who-have-experienced-child-removal-2022.pdf

[3] Executive-summary-Breaking-down-the-barriers-web-version-FINAL.pdf (weareagenda.org)

[4] https://www.uea.ac.uk/documents/96135/2234204/CRCF+RB+-+Counting+Fathers+In+Understanding+Men%27s+experiences+of+the+child+protection+system.pdf/