Dan Peters 11 June 2014

Top judge in contraception call for prolific parents

Parents who have scores of children taken away by social services should be encouraged to use contraception, the president of the High Court’s family division has said.

Sir James Munby said it was a ‘distressingly regular occurrence’ for judges to deal with mothers who have a dozen or more children taken away by social services.

But he said programmes encouraging parents to use birth control were already being used to tackle the problem in some parts of the country.

Sir James spoke about new Family Drug and Alcohol Courts, which can now draw up plans involving council social workers that aim to change parents’ behaviours.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the British Association of Social Workers, he said: ‘With some local authorities contraception is an important part of the thinking.

‘The whole thing is very intensive but it does seem to work.

‘The savings if you can avoid care proceedings are enormous.’

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner