Number of infants subject to care proceedings remains “concerningly high”, say researchers

The authors – drawn from Oxford, Lancaster, Lancashire and Swansea universities – said all involved in care were “swimming against a rising tide of social and economic pressures”.

In Born into Care: 1 in every 118 infants in England at risk of care proceedings in 2024/25, they said the rate at which infants are involved in care proceedings was substantially higher than in 2007/08 but had reached a peak in 2019/20, since when rates had declined but “remain concerningly high”.

Infants aged under one were particularly vulnerable to becoming involved in care proceedings.

In 2024/25, there were 4,872 infants aged under one affected in England, equivalent to 85 infants per 10,000 of such children, or approximately 1 in every 118 infants.

This was below the 2019/20 peak of 94 per 10,000 but well above the 52 per 10,000 recorded in 2007/08.

The researchers found a concentration of proceedings in the earliest days of an infant's life with 52% of all infants subject to care proceedings entering these within their first two weeks.

“The combination of a persistently high newborn rate and the concentration of more than half of infant proceedings within the first two weeks of life remains an important finding for policy and practice,” the researchers said.

They welcomed prospective new judicial guidance which aims to reduce urgent care proceedings at birth and said this represented “a substantive shift towards greater procedural fairness for mothers in particular, immediately following birth.

“Where parents have a longer window to access legal representation and prepare for court, this constitutes a fairer, more transparent legal process.”

Judicial leadership at a national level would though be an essential component of this change being a success.

The researchers said all practitioners concerned “are swimming against a rising tide of social and economic pressures, including the escalating costs of daily living, homelessness, and the growing mental health needs of families.

“In the face of these challenges, local authorities and partner agencies continue to innovate, adapt and develop new ways of supporting families, but this new statistical release underscores the scale of the challenge and extent to which local authorities still favour care proceedings close to birth for infants at risk.”

Mark Smulian