‘We can help you, but you’ll have to go on contraception’
WOMEN WITH CHILDREN IN CARE OFFERED SECOND CHANCE
WOMEN whose children have been taken into care are being offered the chance to go on a scheme which could change their lives – as long as they agree to go on contraception.
Wigan council is the first in Greater Manchester to launch the Pause scheme – which aims to break ‘destructive patterns of behaviour’ in women whose children have been removed from them, often repeatedly.
But, if they want to join the 18-month programme, women must agree to go on ‘long-acting reversible contraception.’
Wigan has already identified 89 women in the town, who between them have had 304 children taken into care over the last five years, as people who might benefit.
It is also aimed at women who are at risk of having their children taken away from them. These women are being approached and told about the scheme by officers, who say they only work with people ‘based on consent.’
If it is a success in Wigan, the scheme could be taken on by other authorities in Greater Manchester, councillors at a committee meeting heard this month.
Women who take part have a programme designed around their needs – anything from learning to read and write, getting access to a dentist, help avoiding toxic relationships, getting over childhood trauma, beating addiction, and taking responsibility for their choices.
Janine Saleh, newlyappointed lead practitioner for Pause Wigan, told the meeting: “One of the things that is key to the model, it’s fundamental, is all of the women who will work with Pause are expected to use a long-acting contraception. It’s not an overnight thing, we give women lots of time, lots of choice, lots of support.” Councillors in the town – who launched the scheme this month – have welcomed it as an ‘exciting’ addition. Officers said by reducing the number of children taken into care, the project has potential to save the authority significant funds. A report presented to the town hall’s children and young people scrutiny committee said: “Through an intense programme of support, (Pause) aims to break the cycle and give women the opportunity to reflect, tackle destructive patterns of behaviour and to develop new skills and responses that can help them create a more positive future.” The council has employed three practitioners and a project lead for the scheme, according to the report. Coun Myra Whiteside, chairwoman of the town hall’s children and young people scrutiny committee, said: “I’m really excited about this project, I think it’s one of the most positive things I’ve ever read.”
Pause was launched in Hackney in 2013, but this is the first time it has come to our region.
Its founder Sophie Humphreys, says of the contraception requirement on Pause’s website: “The success of our voluntary programme is predicated on working with women at a time when they do not have a child in their care, or are pregnant.
“The women on the programme are able to have a period of time where they can focus on their needs and development, alongside others without the risk of pregnancy during that time.”
Wigan council heard that a Department for Education evaluation of the scheme reported that if every woman in England who had had two or more children removed from their care worked with Pause, more than £2.5bn could be saved over the five years.