8.34 Parenting Capacity and Mental Health Issues
Show amendments
Last reviewed in June 2021
Date of next review: June 2023
RELATED GUIDANCE
Contents
- Definition(Jump to)
- Recognition(Jump to)
- Response and the Importance of Working in Partnership(Jump to)
Definition
8.34.1 | For the purposes of safeguarding children, the mental health or mental illness of the parent should be considered in the context of the impact of the illness on the care provided to the unborn, child / children. Mental health support may be provided through a range of services including primary health, psychological support services, charitable organisations such as Mind and secondary care services. |
Recognition
8.34.2 | The majority of parents who suffer mental illness are able to care for and safeguard their child(ren) and / or unborn child. However, some children of parents with mental illness may be seen as children with additional need who require support. |
8.34.3 | There is a risk to children where a parent has an enduring and/or severe mental illness, that they may be more likely to suffer significant harm. This could be in relation to all categories of abuse. Where a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering significant harm as the result of commission or omission on the part of the parent/ carer, in relation to their mental illness then the welfare of the child must be paramount. Where professionals believe that this may be the case a referral must be made to Children's Social Care using the Making a Referral Procedure. |
8.34.4 | When a parent is under the age of 18 they may also need a referral to children’s services for support in their own right When social workers or other partner agencies believe that there is parental mental illness that has not been previously recognised consultation with the GP should be considered for referral for ongoing mental health support. |
8.34.5 | The following factors indicate a child who may be at higher risk of suffering significant harm:
|
8.34.6 | The following parental risk factors may impact upon parenting capacity and increase concerns which may require a referral to Children's Social Care for an assessment of the child's needs:
|
8.34.7 | It may be necessary to seek consultation with specialist mental health practitioners in some circumstances regarding parents experiencing mental health difficulties. This is in order to gain an understanding of the nature, degree and context of their behaviours and potential impact on parenting capacity for example:
|
8.34.8 | Adult mental health services should have named nurses / doctors / professionals for safeguarding children within their agency and seek advice from them if necessary. |
Response and the Importance of Working in Partnership
8.34.9 | Adult and child mental health professionals, child care social workers, health visitors and midwives, school nurses and education services must share information in order to be able to assess risks - see Information Sharing and Confidentiality. |
8.34.10 | Where appropriate, children should be given an opportunity to contribute to assessments as they often have good insight into the patterns and manifestations of their parent's mental ill-health. |
8.34.11 | Care programme meetings about parents who have mental health difficulties must include consideration of any needs or risk factors for the children concerned. Children's Social Care along with other relevant agencies should be involved in planning discharge arrangements. |
8.34.12 | Where a parent,/ carer, of a child is deemed to be a danger to self or others by agency professionals, a referral must be made to Children's Social Care, who should be invited to any relevant planning meetings. |
8.34.13 | Strategy Discussions and Child Protection Conferences must include any psychiatrist, community psychiatric nurse, psychologist and adult mental health social worker involved with the parent / carer. |
8.34.14 | Children's Social Care may be requested to assess whether it is in the best interests of a child to visit a parent or family member in a psychiatric hospital. (See Visits by a Child to High Secure Hospitals and Prisons Procedure). Psychiatric hospitals should have written policies drawn up in consultation with Children's Social Care regarding visiting of patients by children, which should only take place following a decision (regularly reviewed) that such a visit would be in the child's best interests. |


