science

First-time mothers whose children go through family court care proceedings in England are 21 times more likely to die within 10 years of having their baby compared with other mothers, a new study by UCL researchers finds.

Amy Van Zyl, Chief Executive of the charity Her Circle, added: “Mothers whose children are subject to care proceedings are extremely vulnerable. Many will already have experienced abuse, violence and significant trauma. However, this is often compounded by the experience of navigating the social care and family court system.

“Child removal through the courts or by social services can be profound. This includes grief, stigma, guilt, loss of identity as a parent and, as these findings strikingly underscore, serious and adverse health consequences.

It would be interesting to know how much of this is because the same factors which trigger care proceedings are also likely to harm the mother, and how much is because the care proceedings cause the harm. Either way, it's a big number and clearly more support needs to be available.

I think we also have to remember that the care proceedings are there to protect the child, and in theory are already a last resort after support has failed. Though I'm sure there's work to be done to improve that in practice.

And dads too? Let's see that death rate for those who went through the family courts. That shit is brutal.

CAFCASS often take accusations from mums as truth without verification.