Recognising Babies and Children as Victims of Domestic Abuse

A Response from Becky Reynolds, Deputy Director of Operations at The For Baby’s Sake Trust

The Local Government Association’s (LGA) recent report, Our Vision for Children, Young People and Families, highlights a critical issue in children’s social care: the prevalence of domestic abuse within family settings.

According to the report, concerns about domestic abuse were identified in 160,600 assessments (31.7% of those with factors identified) in 2023/24, while children were directly identified as victims in 55,040 assessments (10.9%).

These figures are a stark reminder of the challenges we face in safeguarding children. However, they also expose significant gaps in how we conceptualise, record the impact of domestic abuse on babies and children and develop our practice.

Babies and Children as Victims of Domestic Abuse: The Need for Recognition

Domestic abuse doesn’t happen in isolation. When a parent is experiencing abuse, their children are impacted, and recognised as victims of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. For babies and children, domestic abuse can have profound and lasting effects on their physical, emotional, and neurological development.

It is deeply concerning, then, that only 10.9% of assessments explicitly identify children as victims of domestic abuse. This figure seems disproportionately low when juxtaposed with the broader prevalence of domestic abuse in the population. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that 2.3 million adults (1.6 million women and 712,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024. If even half of these individuals are parents, the number of affected children would be in the millions. This suggests a significant under-recognition of babies and children as victims in their own right.

Looking the Numbers: A Systemic Gap

The disparity between the ONS’s figures and those recorded in children’s social care assessments raise important questions. How as social workers are we recognising the full extent of harm? Are there inconsistencies in how domestic abuse is identified and recorded across local authorities? Or is there a deeper, systemic issue in how we conceptualise baby’s and children’s experiences of domestic abuse?

In our work at The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we’ve seen first-hand how domestic abuse impacts babies from the earliest stages of life. Research has shown that exposure to domestic abuse during pregnancy and the critical first 1,001 days can lead to lifelong implications for brain development and emotional wellbeing. Despite this, the needs of the youngest victims often go unacknowledged in assessments and interventions. Babies and very young children lack a voice in these systems, and without proactive measures, they risk being invisible victims.

Shifting the Narrative: Children as Victims, Not Just Witnesses

One of the reasons for this under-recognition may be a persistent narrative that frames children as “witnesses” to domestic abuse rather than victims. This distinction is not just semantic; it fundamentally shapes how we think and respond. A child who hears, sees, or senses violence in their home is not merely a bystander—they are enduring trauma that can be as damaging as physical abuse.

The language we use in social care assessments must reflect this reality. Children should be recognised as victims in their own right, with an emphasis on understanding the unique ways domestic abuse impacts their lives now and in the future. For babies and toddlers, this might mean recognising the harm caused by a disrupted attachment with their primary caregiver or the stress of living in a volatile and unsafe environment.

Bridging the Gap: Recommendations for Social Care

Enhance Training and Awareness
Social workers need robust training to understand the nuanced impacts of domestic abuse on children, particularly babies and toddlers. This includes recognising signs of trauma, understanding developmental impacts, and knowing how to record these accurately in assessments. This training should commence at university and be available for all roles across social care including practitioner, manager and strategic leader.
Recognise the Signs of Domestic Abuse
While domestic abuse may not always be the primary concern in a social care assessment, it is essential for practitioners to broaden their focus and recognise the signs. The links between domestic abuse and other safeguarding concerns are well evidenced and recognising this can ensure that families receive the most comprehensive and effective support.

Prioritise Early Intervention
The earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes for children. This requires a shift in focus towards preventative work with families, rather than responding only when harm has already occurred. Programmes like For Baby’s Sake, which work with both parents to address the root causes of abuse and build healthier relationships, can play a vital role.

Standardise Assessment Frameworks
A national framework for assessing the impact of domestic abuse on children could help address inconsistencies across local authorities. This should include clear guidance on recognising babies and very young children as victims, even if they are not the direct targets of abuse.

Integrate Data Across Agencies
Social care cannot work in isolation. By integrating data from health services, police, and schools, and charities, we can build a fuller picture of how domestic abuse impacts families and ensure that no child is missed.

Champion a Trauma-Informed Approach
Recognising children as victims requires a shift towards trauma-informed practice. This means understanding the pervasive impact of trauma, actively avoiding re-traumatisation, and prioritising the voices and needs of children in all decision-making.

A Call to Action

The statistics in the LGA report highlight the scale of the challenge, but they also serve as a call to action for us all. Babies and children experiencing domestic abuse cannot afford to wait for our systems to catch up. Every unrecognised victim represents a failure to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

As professionals in this space, we have a duty to challenge the status quo and advocate for a system that recognises and responds to the needs of children. This means holding ourselves accountable for improving data collection, training, assessment and intervention. It means listening to families, understanding their unique circumstances, and working collaboratively to create safer, more supportive environments.

Conclusion: Putting Babies and Children at the Centre

At The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we are committed to ensuring that babies and children are no longer invisible victims of domestic abuse. This starts with recognising their experiences, valuing their voices, and advocating for systemic change.

The LGA report is a timely reminder of the work still to be done. By addressing the gaps in how we record and respond to domestic abuse, we can build a social care system that truly puts babies and children at its heart.