New analysis out today (10th November) indicates that almost 9,000 babies in Wales could be living in families where at least one parent suffers from mental health problems, drug or alcohol abuse or is involved in domestic violence. Furthermore, a study of serious case reviews in Wales, the majority of which were undertaken in the last five years, shows that of the 57 known to the charity, 23 involved a baby and at least 18 of those cases highlighted one or more of these key issues.
NSPCC Cymru/Wales will today ask Assembly Members (AMs) in Wales to recognise the vulnerability of babies by backing its ‘All Babies Count’ campaign. Support for the campaign within the National Assembly is being driven by AMs from across all four main political parties and representing areas across Wales.
Parents want to do the best for their children but some need more support than others. Parents who struggle with mental health problems, or domestic violence, or who have difficulties with drink or drugs, can find it more difficult to give their babies the love, care and attention that’s needed. Whilst not all babies in these families are harmed, evidence does show that they are at a greater risk of abuse and neglect. Over half the contacts to the NSPCC’s Helpline involve concerns about children in families with these problems.
Statistics indicate that in Wales:
1 in 5 babies are living in families where one or both parents is at high risk of depression or serious anxiety
1 in 40 mothers and 1 in 9 fathers of babies under one consume hazardous levels of alcohol
1 in 35 mothers of babies under the age of one have experienced violence at the hands of a partner.
Support for babies living in these homes needs to be early and effective. Research shows that when abuse or neglect occurs, babies’ development can suffer. The impact of a lack of healthy interaction with parents and other carers in the first year of life can be particularly acute and can cause long-term damage to physical and mental health.
While the Welsh Government’s new maternity services strategy recognises that becoming a parent is a significant emotional event, NSPCC Cymru/Wales believes that this needs to result in effective support for parents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Local safeguarding plans are also currently in a process of change and it is vital the specific needs of babies are not lost during this transition.
As part of the campaign, the charity will call on the Welsh Government to ensure that babies are protected and parents are supported by committing to the following measures:
- Ensure the commitment to safeguarding through early intervention continues and that investment in the early years is strengthened.
- Acknowledge the critical role universal midwifery and health visiting services has in ensuring the safeguarding of babies through joined-up thinking and an evidenced-based approach to policy development and implementation.
- Develop and implement a strategy to highlight the vulnerability of babies and the prevention of non-accidental head injuries.
NSPCC national head of service for Wales, Des Mannion, said: “Babies are eight times more likely to be killed than any other age group of children, so it’s a major concern for us that the most vulnerable and helpless members of our society could be at risk because of a lack of support. Evidence shows that intervening early is the best approach, and can remove the future risk of abuse or neglect. It also makes sound economic sense. Investing in preventing harm is a more effective way of spending money than trying to pick up the pieces of children’s broken lives in the years after abuse has happened.”
Alongside the call on the Welsh Government, the NSPCC is launching a range of new programmes to test the best ways to protect babies and support parents. The NSPCC will work alongside partners in local authorities and other charities to deliver this work. In Wales, these will include an innovative hospital based parent education programme designed to lower the instance of non-accidental head injuries in babies and a new group based antenatal programme helping vulnerable parents to manage the major transition into parenthood.
