Mothers with a history of substance misuse: life after they have been told that their children are being permanently removed

A partnership between Brighton Oasis Project - which provides a range of services for women with drug/alcohol problems - and the School of Applied Social Science (SASS) at the University of Brighton, this project will focus upon female substance users whose children have been subject to permanent removal. Analysis of data collected by Oasis, and their experience in this area, suggests that this is a particular issue of concern in terms of the impacts this can have for individual women and families, but also has policy implications for local and central government. In recent years there has been an attempt to develop a service response to the needs of this client group both locally and nationally though there is scant data on the experiences of the women themselves and their trajectory. Accordingly, we seek to explore what happens to women after their children have been subject to permanent removal. In exploring the lived experiences of this group of women it is anticipated that the services Oasis provide can be further shaped to meet those mother’s needs for, as Broadhurst and Mason (2013, 291) contend, much more needs to be known about the needs of this “hidden population” to effect more meaningful practices and policy responses.

This much needed project brings together Brighton Oasis Project and the School of Applied Social Science. Very little is known about the experiences and needs of women who lose custody of their children as a result of problematic substance use.

Research Question

What might appropriate support look like for women who have substance misuse problems resulting in their children being permanently removed?

Aims

• To explore the lived experiences of women with histories of problematic substance use issues who have had their children removed from them permanently in order to achieve a better understanding of their needs.

• To produce an evidence-base that will inform the development of tailored client-focused, resource-efficient practice within health and social care services.

• To enable marginalised women’s voices to be heard within the research, policy development and evaluation processes.

• To identify where further research and practice can be developed in this area.

The project took much longer than anticipated to set up in light of the ethical complexities, but we are happy to report that four rich interviews have now been completed and we are now waiting to secure two more participants. Key themes emerging from the interviews already show, not only ways in which support can be developed, but they also shine clear light on the women’s reflexive agency which is likely to challenge accepted thinking about women in this position. We look forward to reporting more when the interviews are concluded.

References

Broadhurst K., and C. Mason (2013) Maternal outcasts: raising the profile of women who are vulnerable to successive, compulsory removals of their children – a plea for preventative action. Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law 35 (3): 291–304.

Contact Dawn Stephen or Jo-Anne Welsh for more information [d.e.stephen@brighton.ac.uk] [jo-anne.welsh@brightonoasisproject.co.uk]