Ella's recent court hearing to prevent her newborn from being taken into care highlights alarming trends in England, where nearly 3,000 newborns faced such proceedings last year—a 20% increase since 2012-13. Experts and the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) argue that insufficient support services contribute to these cases. Many mothers, like Ella, are thrust into legal battles right after giving birth, often lacking adequate notice or resources. The NFJO is calling for better integration of preventative measures to avoid unnecessary separations, pushing against what they deem inhumane practices instigated by local councils.
I'm not eating properly. I can't sleep because I'm terrified. I just want to go home with my baby.
Experts argue that earlier intervention and better support from understaffed services could help many mothers keep their babies.
Mothers are often expected to defend themselves in court immediately after giving birth, highlighting the urgent need for procedural reforms.
In most cases, councils don’t need to seize a baby in a last-minute legal panic, as sufficient prior notice exists.
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