Nadine Thorpe knew that the newborn baby – which arrived during lockdown – would be better off staying with her mother. But the family court was keen for the child to be separated from the parent because of her substance misuse problems.
Thorpe, who works as a children’s guardian (children’s social worker) for the Children and Family Court Advisory Service, Cafcass, in London, recalls: “I advised the court that a placement in a specialist baby and mother unit was better for the child because while there the mother could reduce her substance misuse. The mother ended up with a supervision order and still tells me today about her progress. I can make a small change which can change the outcome for a child long-term.”
