Support services for women who have children removed set to close

Pause, a national charity that works with women who have experienced, or are at risk of, having children removed from their care, runs 30 practices across 38 local authorities. 

However, in its latest briefing the organisation warns that two practices will close over the next two months and one will reduce its services because a lack of statutory obligation to fund such services means councils no longer see them as a priority. 

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Pause told CYP Now that its Derbyshire and St Helens services are closing in the next two months and Pause North East is reducing to a very small service.

Jules Hillier, chief executive of Pause, said: “As well as women being affected by the cost-of-living crisis, in some parts of the country, they are also facing service cuts.  

“Local authorities know that the rates of children taken into care will increase because of these decisions but they tell us they simply can’t afford the services. Women need the support of services like Pause and others, to offer them real hope and to help them build a more positive future. These decisions could have a disastrous impact on women and their children.”   

The briefing warns that the cost-of-living crisis is already impacting women who rely on these services as it is affecting their ability to maintain a relationship with their children. 

“Women who have to pay to travel to attend their contact arrangements with their children or who need to provide a positive and warm environment for their children when they visit, are facing increasingly difficult choices and are often going without heating or food themselves,” the report states. 

One woman, known as Zoe, who is currently on the Pause Programme, said “I only put the heating on when I have my kids round for contact (once a week for 3 hours), to try and reduce cost. Which do I choose to pay? Rent, a bill, heating or food?” 

As part of its report, Pause recommends that all local authorities prioritise the support they offer to birth parents and the government should ensure, in its response to the Care Review, that it commit to providing support to birth parents, across the country. 

“All local authorities provide support with the practical challenges of maintaining relationships with children, this should include travel costs and phone credit if necessary,” it adds. 

Pause launched in Hackney in 2013 and received funding through the government’s innovation programme the following year. 

Evaluation of the programme in 2017 found it could save local authorities as much as £2.1m per year.