Protecting All Vulnerable Babies Better For Early Years Professionals in Practice

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel's national review, Protecting All Vulnerable Babies Better, examines the wider safeguarding lessons arising from the death of baby Victoria Marten.

Whilst the circumstances of this particular case were exceptional, the review concludes that many of the safeguarding challenges are encountered regularly across all services working with babies and their families. One of its strongest messages is that practitioners must consciously keep the baby at the centre of every assessment and decision, particularly when adults' needs, behaviours or circumstances attempt to dominate professionals.

Babies cannot communicate to tell us they are being abused or neglected. They are entirely dependent upon the adults around them to recognise when something is wrong and to act. This is where knowing the child and using skilled observation, professional curiosity and a sound understanding of child development are so important. Understanding the baby's voice, even when they cannot speak, is at the heart of effective safeguarding.

Practitioners should never underestimate the vulnerability of unborn babies and infants, particularly during the first 1,001 days of life. Safeguarding babies requires professionals to think differently. Babies cannot tell us they are frightened, neglected or unsafe. Instead, we must recognise vulnerability through observation, professional curiosity, effective information sharing and multi-agency action. This is effective key working at its very best.

Protecting babies begins before birth and relies upon professionals working together to identify risk early, remain child-centred and never lose sight of the baby's voice, even when that voice cannot yet be heard. The review highlights the importance of identifying concerns throughout pregnancy. Effective pre-birth assessments, robust planning and timely multi-agency intervention provide the greatest opportunity to protect babies before harm occurs.

When babies enter early years settings, providers have a crucial role in recognising emerging concerns, supporting families and sharing information with partner agencies. Practitioners should receive regular, up-to-date safeguarding training that equips them to work confidently with our youngest children. They should remain professionally curious about changes in family circumstances and understand the impact that domestic abuse, parental mental ill health, substance misuse and other adversities can have on babies and very young children. Concerns should be recorded promptly, shared appropriately and always considered from the perspective of the baby's lived experience.

Professional curiosity is essential

The review reinforces the importance of professional curiosity, particularly where families disengage from services. This may present as frequent missed appointments, moving between local authority areas, inconsistent explanations, avoiding professional involvement, changing childcare arrangements, withdrawing from support services or simply disappearing from professionals' view. Non-engagement should not automatically be viewed as parental choice and it may be an indicator of increasing risk.

The review reminds us that babies must always remain visible. It is easy for professional attention to become focused on adults, particularly where there are complex issues such as mental ill health, domestic abuse, substance misuse or involvement with the criminal justice system. Throughout our work with families, we should continually ask ourselves What is life like for this baby?

The report promotes a balance of support and challenge. Building trust and having supportive relationships with parents is fundamental to effective early years practice. However, empathy should never replace professional challenge where safeguarding concerns remain. Good relationships strengthen safeguarding practice, not weaken it. Vigilance, professional curiosity and respectful challenge are all essential when working alongside families.

It also reminds us to think about cumulative harm. Serious harm rarely results from one isolated incident. Multiple low level concerns may combine over time to create significant risk for an unborn baby or infant. Many of these risks originate within adult services, including domestic abuse, mental ill health, substance misuse and offending behaviour. This is why effective information sharing and joint working between adult services, children's services and early years providers are so important.

Protecting babies is everyone's responsibility. Early years professionals are often uniquely placed to notice the small changes, emerging concerns and family pressures that others may not see. Never underestimate the difference your observations, professional curiosity and timely action can make to a baby's life.

Read the Government's response to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s national review into the death of baby Victoria Marten.