The 10 insights were developed as part of an NIHR ARC West and Centre for Academic Primary Care project, in collaboration with Changing Futures Bristol and a range of experts at various universities. The team looked at how families can be better supported during care proceedings, where decisions are made about whether children can safely stay at home.
Parents whose children are at risk of being taken into care often have complex health and social care needs such as substance use challenges, domestic violence, mental ill health, homelessness or have been through the criminal justice system. Services such as social care, health and voluntary organisations do not always work together in a clear or co-ordinated way. Evidence about what support works best for families is limited.
The project involved nearly 300 people who took part in discussions between July 2024 and August 2025. These included social workers, health professionals, voluntary sector staff and parents who have experienced having their children taken into care.
From these conversations, the research team identified the 10 key areas for improvement:
Better coordination between services
Providing support that recognises the impact of past trauma and avoids further harm for both families and staff
Improving cultural understanding
Offering more advocacy and peer support for parents
Providing ongoing support after care proceedings end
Enabling more involvement of fathers and wider family members
Intervening earlier when families are struggling
Providing better support for substance use issues
Building stronger links between health services
A greater focus on staff wellbeing.
This project brought together research, professional experience and lived experience to guide future research and service improvement. Acting on these insights could help services work more effectively together, reduce harm, build trust with families and better support both children and parents through the care system.