We think children should stay safely with their families whenever possible. The government must review how to do this, fund better early help, respite, and practical support, reduce any unnecessary court removals, and ensure decisions to remove children are only a last resort with full transparency.

We call on the government and Parliament to conduct a review to ensure social services always provide proper early help and support to families in crisis, including practical assistance and respite, before considering child removal. We believe children should only be removed as a last resort, not due to rigid procedures or lack of support.