A bulletin for professionals involved in safeguarding babies at or close to birth

Family time

In this edition, we are covering family time between babies and parents when a baby has been taken into care shortly after birth. We are focusing on the period immediately after the separation and during any subsequent care proceedings, before a final decision has been made about where and with whom the baby will live.

Family time is still referred to as contact in the legislation (Children Act 1989 for England and the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014) and in relevant regulations and guidance for local authorities. Local authorities have a duty to promote contact between children they are looking after and their parents. 

What does research say about contact/family time?

In 2020, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (Nuffield FJO) published a research review that examined what is known about the implications of contact for the well-being of children who have been separated from their parents through care proceedings. The review synthesised findings from 49 studies, published between 2000 and 2020. The evidence shows that well-facilitated contact is associated with positive well-being outcomes for children in both the short and long term. Support for everyone involved in contact – children, parents, other relatives and carers – is crucially important, and requires the investment of time and resources.

The key question is not how much contact has a positive impact on children’s well-being, but how best to facilitate positive experiences and the meaningful involvement of the people who are important in the child’s life.

There have only been a small number of research studies that have looked specifically at family time with babies while care proceedings are ongoing, but the messages from research are the same.

Nuffield FJO commissioned a rapid research project looking at the experiences of family time for children, parents, and carers during COVID-19, when in many areas all face-to-face meetings were stopped at least for a period of time. The use of digital forms of contact during this period increased enormously. Although the research found that such contact was less satisfactory for babies, there were nonetheless some benefits, including greater direct contact and improved relationships between foster carers and parents. 

Nuffield FJO also published a briefing paper setting out six key messages from research about family time.

The six key messages are:

• Focus on the quality of contact
• Listen to the views of children (with babies this will mean paying careful attention to their responses)
• Recognise the significance of siblings, grandparents, wider family and friends
• Ensure that all involved are clear about the purpose of contact
• Ensure that contact plans are tailored to each child and regularly reviewed
• Ensure skilled professional support is available.

Contact/family time is obviously hugely important when a baby is separated from their parents and where a final decision about where the baby should live in the long term has yet to be decided. Family time will be the time to encourage and support bonding between the parents and their baby, as well as providing opportunities to model responsive and caring behaviours for parents who may need support with this. While careful preparation and professional support for family time is always important, it will be particularly crucial to ensure good quality care between parents and babies at this early stage. Even if a decision is made by the court that the baby should be permanently separated from their parents, good quality family time at this early stage will lay a foundation for positive ongoing contact in the years ahead as the baby grows up.

The Born into Care best practice guidelines recognise the importance of good planning and support for family time:

Parents are provided with clear information concerning the timing and purpose of family time, and support is given by the local authority to try to maximise positive interactions between parents and their baby. Professionals remain alert to the possibility of reunification. Family time includes an offer of support and education to parents to improve their parenting capacity and ensure that they can best meet their baby’s needs within these sessions and give the best chance for safe reunification. (p.33)

The social worker, kinship carer or foster carer calls the parents within 12 hours of separation to provide reassurance regarding how the baby has settled into the placement. The role of kinship and foster carers is developed to maximise opportunities to support parents to bond with their baby. (p.34)

Foster carers and kinship carers are encouraged to use a diary or other form of communication matched to each parent’s own communication preferences and learning needs to provide information about the baby’s development and routines. This includes photographs and other mementos. (p34)

Parents are encouraged to share pictures and mementos with the kinship or foster carer, such as through the use of HOPE Boxes, for example. (p.34)

Foster carers transport the baby to and from family time, wherever possible and safe to do so, to allow time for information-sharing regarding the baby’s routines and development with parents face to face. (p.35)

Virtual contact is considered in addition to face-to-face family time in order to involve parents in key activities such as the baby’s bath time, bedtime and feeding. (p.35)

Parents are provided with clear information concerning the timing and purpose of family time, and support is given by the local authority to try to maximise positive interactions between parents and their baby. (p.36)

Parents are supported to prepare for family time and consider activities and interactions consistent with the baby’s developmental needs. (p.36)

Parents receive constructive feedback following family time, and family time is used as an opportunity for education and support to improve parent and baby interaction. (p.36)

Information regarding the details of family time is provided in a form consistent with each parent’s learning and communication style. (p.36)

HOPE Boxes

HOPE Boxes, developed by mothers with lived experience and health professionals, allow mothers to pass on items to their babies, and to keep items themselves to take home. At the point of initial separation, the court has not made a final decision, and so the baby may be reunited with his or her parents. HOPE Boxes provide important memories for parents, but are also important in helping to keep the connection between parents and their babies developing and growing over time.

Examples of practice in line with the guidelines

Below we include some information from two of the local authorities involved in the Born into Care best practice guidelines research about how they approach family time following separation. The two case studies illustrate the careful approach used in these local authority areas to support and sustain relationships between mothers and babies.

Together for Children Sunderland

During COVID the pre-birth team in Sunderland tried to be creative in helping parents maintain a link with their babies when actual contact was very limited. We know that hearing a parent’s familiar voice can also be soothing for a baby and provides a way of bonding, so we tried to make up the missed family time through video calls, where parents could watch carers do bath and bedtime and parents could talk to their babies or read a bedtime story. 

We discussed this with our fostering team, and it was agreed that foster carers would be given their own work phone, and that each family would have an agreed plan of how they would be contacted, including when and for how long, as well as what the calls would look like. When COVID restrictions began to lift we saw how much of a benefit the video calls had had for everyone involved. Carers had better relationships with parents and parents were more involved with their babies. We decided that going forward even when there was a high level of family time face to face, we would include video calls on days family time wasn’t in person and foster carers would also provide updates for parents. This is planned on a case-by-case basis and we always have discussions with potential carers before any placement is agreed.

Foster carers discuss any issues and anxieties they have over this with their supervising social workers, who also support them to set up the calls. So far, no carers have refused to do this. Naturally there have been some challenges, and in these situations the social workers update the family time plan so that parents and carers are really clear about what will be done and when. This takes the pressure and responsibility off the foster carer and ensures everyone is clear about the plan. In some situations where there are more challenges than others, the social workers are added to the WhatsApp chat so that they can oversee this.

One of our bottom lines for all baby placements is that carers provide daily updates via WhatsApp; this may be just a text and photo or videos of how the day has gone, or if developmental milestones have been met. Each family has a different agreement based on what everyone agrees is needed. Parents can get updates and ask questions and are far more involved in the day-to-day goings on of their babies’ lives.

We also ask that any carer is able to have a face-to-face meeting (where safe) with the parents or parent before baby is born. This greater communication between parents and carers has led to some lovely outcomes – for example foster carers remaining in touch with parents and babies when the babies have gone home. One foster carer was even made godparent for a child in their care. It has also led to ongoing links with birth parents in situations where sadly the baby could not return home and has been adopted by the early permanence carers. Within the pre-birth team we have noticed that the high level of contact with the parents means that when the carers become the adopters, they have a good relationship with and a high level of empathy for the parents. The feedback from birth parents is that whilst they may not always agree with the plan for adoption, they feel more comfortable knowing the people who will be adopting their baby.

Together for Children Sunderland case study

Eileen had problems with her mental health and with substance misuse and she had also experienced domestic abuse from her partner. She had had a previous baby removed and adopted and social services became involved when she was pregnant with Jason. Eileen was not able to make the changes needed to ensure that Jason would be safe, and so when he was born, he was removed and placed with carers who would be able to adopt him if the court decided he could not return home.

Jason’s carers set up a WhatsApp group with Eileen, and every day they would put on updates, photos, videos and short summaries of the things he had been up to. Eileen was unable to face going to see Jason, but she always responded to the messages from the carers positively and would give small updates about herself. Eileen is very sad that Jason’s carers are now making an application to adopt him, but she feels she has a really lovely relationship with them and she feels confident that they will take care of him. The carers themselves feel they understand Eileen a lot more than they might otherwise have done and they can talk to Jason about all the contact through the WhatsApp chat.

Blackburn with Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen case study

The Family Support Worker began working with Mother early in her pregnancy and built up a good relationship with her, explaining the Pre-Birth Offer and what support would be offered to her during her pregnancy. The Family Support Worker explained the impact that domestic abuse and substance misuse has on babies and children and their overall development. Mother was able to be honest about the fact that she was still misusing drugs and was still in contact with her previous partner, recently released from custody after assaulting her. Mother continued seeing the Family Support Worker weekly and showed interest in her developing baby and what is needed to care for a baby safely. The Family Support Worker supported Mother to attend substance misuse appointments and attend the Wish centre to learn more about the effects of domestic abuse.

Police received information that Mother had suffered more abuse just before her baby was born by her ex-partner and appeared to be still in contact with him. Once baby was born, care proceedings were started, and baby was separated from Mother although it was recognised that Mother was working hard to make changes to her life by this point.  

Family time sessions were agreed at the first hearing and were scheduled to take place four times per week starting the day after the court hearing. A HOPE Box was given to Mother in hospital, and she had special memories within the box that she could take home with her. Mother has said in particular she liked the blankets and the fact that she swaps these between herself and her baby in order to continue to develop the bonding and attachment between them. Mother also included her baby’s hospital tag and his measurements at birth in the box. 

Family time has been positive so far. Mother has attended regularly and shows emotional warmth towards her baby when she’s with him. The Family Support Worker has played an active part in family time sessions in order to support Mother and help her to build relationships with family time staff members. This has helped Mother to feel confident about caring for her baby, and we have been able to see that she is able to implement the skills we worked on with her before baby was born. Mother has continued to attend appointments at the drug services and has received negative drug tests. 

The Family Support Worker also supported Mother to attempt to breastfeed her baby within family time. Mother was able to loan a breast pump in order to express her milk when she was not with her baby. Photos of her baby were printed for mother with the aim of promoting the production of her breast milk. Mother was able to express colostrum and bring this to feed the baby during the next family time session.

The family time sessions have enabled Mother to develop her bonding and attachment with her baby. Having the family time in place quickly, and four times a week, is also helping Mother with her progress in addressing her substance misuse and ending her relationship with baby’s father. All of this will also support baby’s early life experiences and his relationship with his mum.

To date Mother remains drug free and is reporting that she is not seeing her ex-partner. Mother regularly attends family time and the Family Time Worker reports that Mother and baby are forming a close and loving relationship. Baby is thriving in foster care and observations tell us that he is meeting all his developmental milestones. Baby enjoys stories and rhyme time and has a lovely smile for his mum during family time.

These case studies demonstrate the importance of providing different ways for parents to keep connection with their babies in these important early weeks and months before final decisions are made, and that the use of family time can help build parents’ confidence in their ability to care for their baby. They also show professionals and carers having compassionate understanding of why parents might not be able to attend family time and ensuring that links are kept up through other ways. The role that carers can play in supporting family time and bonds between mothers and babies is also evident.

For further information on the approaches used by Together for Children Sunderland and Blackburn with Darwen, please contact:

Rebecca Pears, Team Manager, Pre-Birth Team, Together for Children Sunderland: rebecca.pears@togetherforchildren.org.uk

Anna Squirrell, Early Help and Support Team Leader, Blackburn with Darwen: Anna.Squirrell@blackburn.gov.uk

Newborn babies and care proceedings aims to support professionals who have the difficult and complex task of assessing whether a newborn baby will be at risk of significant harm if they remain in the care of their parent/s. Each edition provides links to a range of resources to help professionals better face this challenging area of work and improve practice and support for families.