Introduce and expand mother-and-child foster care placements where children are removed due to external risks such as domestic abuse, housing issues or crisis situations, but where the mother has not been found to pose a safeguarding risk to the child.

Many children are placed into foster care due to circumstances such as domestic abuse, housing problems or lack of support rather than poor parenting. Separating children from a safe and loving parent causes unnecessary trauma. When children are removed despite no evidence of harm from the parent, it can lead to emotional distress, attachment difficulties, anxiety and poorer long-term outcomes, even in safe foster placements. Keeping families together with support would better protect children.