A team set up to 'break the cycle' of children being born into care is on track to have twice as many service users as was anticipated.
Northumberland County Council set up the Pre-Birth team in September following the "Born into Care" review which looked into the national level of newborns subject to court proceedings.
The research project was a partnership between Lancaster University and Oxford University's Rees Centre, and was commissioned to bring in new guidance to "inform practice when the State intervenes to protect infants at birth, through care proceedings".
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It followed increasing national and international concerns about the volume of newborns in care proceedings. Speaking at Thursday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Social Work team manager Katie Scovell explained the work of the council's new team.
She said: "We have the new pre-birth team that has been set up to really focus on work with parents who have had significant involvement with children's services before, who have had difficulties or have children no longer in their care, and break that cycle.
"It's an exciting opportunity to work with families in a different way than we have before."
A report presented to members explained that the team aims to secure a permanent home for babies as quickly as possible following birth. It consists of one team manager, four social workers and two social work support assistants, and is based at the family hub in Ashington.
Mrs Scovell explained that the team has already worked with 20 cases in the two months since it was formed. The meeting's chairman, Coun Wayne Daley, said it was important the council ensured the team had the proper resources to carry out their task.
He said: "20 in two months is quite concerning. There was the prediction of there being 100 in a year, but looking at the current numbers it could be double.
"Can we have an assurance that officers are looking at this to make sure the team has the resources and make sure staff are supported, and ultimately the babies are supported?"
The team will be reviewed and evaluated after nine months.
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