In September 2021, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published a report into the deaths of babies under one year old who had been harmed or killed by their fathers. The review incorporated interviews with fathers who were serving prison sentences for harming babies as well as an analysis of other cases referred to the Panel where an infant had sustained significant non-accidental injuries.
One of the key findings from the review titled 'The Myth of Invisible Men' was the lack of engagement by professionals with fathers across all systems, resulting in a deficit of knowledge and assessment as to the role that they play in a child’s life, their history of parenting, their own experiences as children and how this might affect them as adults.
In Essex, a practice tool has been developed to help practitioners have conversations with fathers and families with the aim of positively including them in work with their children. Studies show that when fathers/father figures are engaged early on, children have better educational, emotional, and social outcomes.
Engaging with father figures - practice tool (PDF, Nov 2024)