There will be no surprises, for anybody who has worked in
children’s services, in the research reported by the BBC’s Sanchia Berg. Working
with mothers who have one child after another taken into care is a core part of
the work.
And most child protection professionals will recognise that
effective preventative services can reduce cost and spare some families from
being torn apart.
The BBC reports the views of lead researcher, Dr Karen Broadhurst of Manchester University. She is right
to argue that the research demonstrates the need for services to help women with
drug and alcohol problems, or those who are in violent relationships, change
their behaviour or otherwise improve their situation. But the crucial factor is how
effective such services can be made. They need to be well thought-out,
carefully designed and properly funded. And they need to be carefully monitored
and continuously improved in the light of feedback.
