NSPCC Learning has published an updated briefing outlining risk factors and learning for improved practice around parental mental health and child welfare: Parents with a mental health problem: learning from case reviews
The briefing, which looks at case reviews published between 2016 and 2022, highlights that professionals from adult and children’s services need to work together to safeguard children when there are signs that a parent’s mental ill-health is impacting their ability to look after their child.
The Greenwich Safeguarding Children Partnership (GSCP) and the Safeguarding Adult’s Board (SAB) have worked collaboratively to create the ‘See the Adult. See the Child’ guidance which details how to identify and respond to concerns about an adult or child at risk. This guidance aims to ensure effective and timely referrals between all Adult and Children’s Services, including the transition between Adult and Children’s Services and to promote good practice in multi-agency working. One of the Key practice points is to increase every family member’s understanding of a parent’s mental health, which can be helpful in terms of increasing their ability to cope.
