Parental support after children taken into care in England

Published: 12 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Child protection experts stress that parents whose children are taken into care must receive proper, trauma-informed support to reduce risks for any future babies. The latest national safeguarding review following the death of baby Victoria Marten highlights the urgent need for improved engagement with parents during child protection interventions. Experts argue that without this focus, destructive cycles of harm are likely to continue, placing newborns and unborn infants at increased danger. The review emphasises that parental support is as critical as safeguarding the child itself to prevent further tragedies.

Victoria Marten’s death in January 2023 exposed severe failings in the way professionals engaged with high-risk families. She died after her parents, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, a convicted rapist, fled authorities and lived in a tent during harsh winter conditions to avoid her removal into care. Her decomposed body was discovered in March 2023, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of insufficient parental support and inadequate safeguarding measures.

The national child safeguarding practice review panel found that Victoria’s birth was the culmination of a repeating pattern of pregnancies, births, and subsequent removals of children into care within the family. By the time Victoria was conceived, the cycle had become entrenched, with devastating consequences. Experts emphasised that earlier and more comprehensive engagement with her parents could have provided opportunities to prevent harm and support healthy family dynamics.

Sir David Holmes, chair of the panel, explained that while Victoria’s death was not predictable, her conception arguably was. He emphasised the importance of proactive engagement with parents whose children have previously been removed to break recurring patterns of neglect and concealment. Holmes stated that addressing parental trauma is vital to safeguarding unborn children and ensuring cycles of harm are interrupted.

The review also highlighted that no single agency or professional had clear responsibility for offering support to Marten and Gordon after prior children were removed. The absence of coordinated support left the couple isolated, which, combined with their reluctance to engage with authorities, significantly increased risks for Victoria. Each of their five moves between 2017 and 2023 coincided with escalating safeguarding concerns, illustrating how systemic gaps left vulnerable children exposed to harm.

Holmes noted that while removing children from dangerous environments is necessary, this action alone does not tackle the underlying challenges families face. He argued that without supporting parents to process grief and trauma, removal might inadvertently increase the risk to future children, including those not yet conceived. The review stressed that breaking cycles of harm requires both protection for children and structured interventions for parents.

Statistics from the Department for Education show that on 31 March 2025, 5,360 under-ones in England were subject to child protection plans. Of these, 3,930 were babies under one year old and 1,430 were unborn infants. The panel recommended the introduction of national guidance specifically targeting safeguarding and child protection for babies. This guidance should include pre-birth planning, strategies for identifying concealed pregnancies, and structured parental support programs to prevent repeated cycles of risk.

The review also called for new legal requirements for registered sex offenders to report changes in relationship status and pregnancies to authorities. Failure to notify police about life changes, including new partners or impending births, could result in imprisonment. Experts believe these measures could help prevent high-risk situations like the one that led to Victoria’s death.

In addition, the panel stressed the importance of training professionals to recognise risk factors in families with a history of child removal. Professionals must proactively consider the likelihood of new pregnancies and engage with parents in trauma-informed ways to mitigate risks. The review concluded that safeguarding interventions must be holistic, combining child protection with parental support to reduce harm across generations.

The tragic case of Victoria Marten underscores that systemic gaps in support for parents contribute directly to child deaths. Experts emphasise that without trauma-informed assistance, parents are more likely to conceal pregnancies or avoid engagement with services, further endangering children. Victoria’s death represents a painful reminder that safeguarding strategies must evolve to protect both children and parents effectively.

Holmes reaffirmed that robust and coordinated national guidance is necessary to ensure families receive timely support, especially those with multiple children removed. He concluded that safeguarding policies should prioritise early intervention and continuous engagement with parents to prevent repeating cycles of harm, ensuring the wellbeing of babies yet to be born.

The Marten and Gordon trial in July 2025 led to convictions for manslaughter, child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice. Their imprisonment highlights the severe consequences of neglecting parental support and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in child protection practices.

In summary, the review underscores that protecting children cannot be isolated from supporting parents. Trauma-informed guidance, pre-birth planning, and coordinated interventions are essential to breaking harmful cycles and safeguarding future generations. National reforms must focus equally on vulnerable babies and the parents tasked with raising them, ensuring tragedies like Victoria’s death are never repeated.

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