The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published their latest national review: Protecting all vulnerable babies better - GOV.UK.
The National Panel will be hosting a webinar to share the learning from this case on Wednesday 4 March from 10am. This is free to access and you can register to attend using the link here: Webinar: Protecting all vulnerable babies better Tickets, Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 10am via Eventbrite.
The review sets out recommendations and findings for national government and local safeguarding partners to protect unborn babies and vulnerable infants at risk of serious harm.
It examines what happened to baby Victoria Marten and her tragic death in March 2023 (near Brighton) and sets out national learning for the child safeguarding system.
The review explores working with parents who are not engaging with safeguarding agencies, concealed pregnancy, managing the child protection risks associated with serious offenders, domestic abuse, and families who move frequently.
There is learning for agencies including Children’s Social Care, Health (especially midwifery and primary care, mental health), Police ( including Jigsaw), and Probation (MAPPA), as well as adults’ services including substance misuse.
Key findings and recommendations include:
Earlier and stronger pre-birth safeguarding, including more detailed national guidance on safeguarding vulnerable unborn babies and infants and situations where a pregnancy is concealed or disclosed late
The importance of trauma-informed practice to help reach families who do not engage with services, recognising that avoidance of services often reflects grief and mistrust rather than deliberate refusal
Better engagement with and support for parents before and after child removal, to help break cycles of harm and reduce repeat risk
A preventative ‘Think Family’ approach, bringing together adult and children’s services to provide a holistic view and identify issues that affect the whole family unit
Stronger links between children’s social care and offender management services, especially when serious sex offenders are parents or carers
Clearer arrangements when families move across geographical boundaries, including the need for formal information transfer processes, shared chronologies and defined safeguarding responsibility