Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the impact of permanently removing a child from the care of their birth parents on the mental health and wellbeing of the parents.

The impact on birth parents of having their child removed permanently will be different depending on their individual circumstances. Birth parents of adopted children may grieve over the loss of their child and may need support to process what has happened. Some may have substance addictions, mental health problems, or have experienced abuse.

Local authorities are required to make a range of services available to birth relatives, including counselling, advice and information and assistance in relation to ongoing contact with the child who was adopted. Many provide support to birth families through arrangements with charities such as Coram, PAC UK and Barnardo’s.

The department recognises the importance of adoption agencies supporting birth parents throughout the adoption process. Support for birth parents that is respectful and empathic is beneficial to birth parents, children and adoptive families.