An Apology Cannot Undo the Past But It Can Acknowledge Harm: Reflections on the Government's Apology for Historic Forced Adoption Practices
This week marked a significant moment in our country's history.
The Government formally apologised to the mothers, adopted people and families affected by historic forced adoption practices in England, recognising the profound and lifelong harm caused by a system that separated thousands of babies from their families, often through coercion, stigma and a lack of genuine choice. Alongside the apology, the Government announced a £4 million support package to improve access to adoption records, family reconnection services, lived experience projects and specialist support.
For many, this apology has been decades in the making, for others, it will reopen wounds that have never truly healed.
As safeguarding professionals, there is much we can learn from this moment.
Safeguarding is also about acknowledging historical harm
We often think of safeguarding as something rooted in the present. Protecting children, supporting adults at risk, responding to concerns but safeguarding also asks us to reflect on the past because understanding where systems failed helps us build systems that are safer, fairer and more compassionate today.
Between 1949 and 1976, many unmarried mothers were made to believe they were unfit to raise their own children. Some were pressured, coerced or misled into giving their babies up for adoption. Many children grew up separated from their families, identities and histories. The impact has lasted across generations.
Trauma does not end when the event ends
One of the most important messages from this apology is that trauma has no expiry date.
Many mothers have lived with lifelong grief, many adoptees have searched for answers about their identity, family history and medical background, many wider family members have carried unanswered questions for decades.
An apology cannot erase that pain.
Recognition matters.
Being believed matters.
Having experiences acknowledged matters.
These are principles that remain central to trauma-informed safeguarding today.
Today's safeguarding must never repeat yesterday's mistakes
Safeguarding has changed enormously over the past several decades.
Today, adoption decisions are subject to robust legal safeguards, judicial oversight and clear statutory frameworks designed to ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of the child but this announcement should still encourage reflection.
It reminds us why safeguarding must always be rooted in:
Respect for people's rights.
Listening to lived experience.
Professional challenge.
Transparency.
Accountability.
Compassion.
Evidence-informed decision making.
Whenever systems stop listening to the people they are designed to protect, the risk of harm increases.
Learning from experience
One of the most encouraging aspects of the Government's announcement is its commitment to capturing the experiences of those affected so their stories are preserved and future generations can learn from them. Lived experience has transformed safeguarding practice. It has changed how we understand domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, mental health, trauma, online harm, and it should continue to shape how we develop policy and practice in the future.
Safeguarding is strengthened when organisations have the courage to acknowledge harm
No safeguarding system is perfect.
No organisation gets everything right.
What matters is how we respond when failures are identified.
Do we deny them or do we acknowledge them, learn from them and improve?
That is the culture every safeguarding organisation should strive to create. One where people feel heard, where accountability is welcomed, where learning is continuous and where the experiences of those affected are never forgotten.
Safeguarding isn't only about protecting future generations, it's also about recognising the experiences of those who should have been better protected in the past.
Resources
If you have been affected by historical forced adoption practices, support is available:
FamilyConnect offers confidential support, including counselling, record tracing and help with reunification where appropriate, and can be reached on 0300 1800 205 or https://www.familyconnect.org.uk
For urgent support Samaritans is available 24/7 and free from any phone: 116 123.
You can also speak to your GP, who can help you access further support.
If you are based outside England, you can still access confidential listening services such as Samaritans
DfE media enquiries
Central newsdesk - for journalists 0203 371 4832