Mothers under the age of 20 are at the greatest risk of being involved in care proceedings in the 10 years after having their first child, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
The study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, examined the hospital and family court data of 3.5 million first-time mothers in England between 2007 and 2021, to understand which social and health factors increased the risk of care proceedings within 10 years of their first birth.
Care proceedings are brought to family courts by social care services because of concerns about child maltreatment (abuse or neglect) or family dysfunction. Four in five proceedings decide to remove the child from parental care.
The researchers found that one in 77 (1.3%) of all first-time mothers were involved in care proceedings within 10 years of their first birth. However, the risks were much higher (one in 15; 6.7%) for mothers under 20 years old, and one in 30 (3.3%) of all mothers aged under 25 at their first child’s birth.
Overall, eight in ten (78.9%) of the first-time mothers in the study who were involved in care proceedings had their first child before the age of 25.
Mothers with health problems in the three years before a first birth were also more likely to be involved in care proceedings, particularly mothers with mental health conditions (5.7%), mothers with adversity-related hospital admissions such as substance use, violence or self-harm (12.8%), and mothers with an intellectual disability (30.1%). Lead author, Dr Georgina Ireland (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), said:
“Our findings suggest that a significant number of first-time mothers are involved in care proceedings in the first 10 years after giving birth, particularly if they are young and live in poorer neighbourhoods. This may be because these mothers often require a significant amount of support to help them be prepared for motherhood, both emotionally and financially.”
As part of the new report, the researchers also assessed the likelihood of mothers experiencing multiple care proceedings.
They found that, overall, one third (34%) of mothers involved in care proceedings before their eldest child was 10 years old went on to have a second care proceeding within the next eight years.
Three quarters (75%) of these second care proceedings followed the start of a new pregnancy. And mothers who became pregnant within two years of their first care proceeding had the highest risk of repeat care proceedings.
The study shows the need for better support for young, deprived mothers with a history of physical and mental health problems at their first birth. Continuing support is also needed after care proceedings as these mothers are seven times more likely to die than their same age peers, with 1.8% (one in 55) dying within eight years of their first care proceedings.
One Response
This issue is absolutely massive and it’s time to take note. More depressing research findings here but not altogether surprising surely. The contributory factors include the growing disconnect in families and communities, so severely limited emotional and practical support. Also huge issues with emotional immaturity, highly dysfunctional parent relationships, many absent/ immature fathers, and drug and alcohol use being so prevalent in under 25’s. Poor mental health and poor emotional regulation, unsafe relationships, poverty etc etc -the list goes on, reflecting a very sad state of affairs for adults and children.
These are all the more obvious features of so many matters before the courts.
It’s notable that legal interventions are indeed taking place, indicating recognition and a definitive response at least! It’s just so tragic that it’s a clear case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted… further highlighting the need not only for earlier and more effective prevention work, but for really robust informed PRE BIRTH assessments and suitable LONGER TERM support and resourcing thereafter. Increasingly local authorities charities and other agencies are unable to support young parents for more than a few weeks, if at all, because they don’t have the resources, skills set, or services in place to offer the right help for longer. It is absolutely counter productive in every sense especially for the most vulnerable children, but it sadly continues. This comes at unfathomable financial cost- the hidden costs though are emotional and psychological as later seen in the children and in all the surrounding trauma.