15.20 Pre-birth planning for care leavers
Contents
- Introduction(Jump to)
- Principles(Jump to)
- Process for Care Leavers(Jump to)
- Package of support available to all expectant parents within Brighton and Hove(Jump to)
Introduction
| 15.20.1 | This protocol applies to all professionals working with Care Leavers who are expectant parents. This includes partners of the expectant person, even if they are no longer in a relationship. |
| 15.20.2 | This protocol does not replace current procedures and processes in relation to unborn children however, it provides a variation in respect to the possible need for early intervention for care leavers with whom we have Corporate Parenting responsibility for, and soon to be Corporate Grandparents. |
| 15.20.3 | Care Leavers often do not have extensive support from family and friends and whilst many go on to parent children without intervention from social care, others may need extra support or experience difficulties. Given their care leaving status, young people who have lived through the care system can be particularly fearful of any assessment process therefore across Sussex we want to offer joined-up solutions with our professional partners to better assist this process. |
| 15.20.4 | When a care leaver announces they are expecting a baby, either as the expectant pregnant person or their partner, the lead agency involved will take the time to identify need, and any potential concern, to consider the need for a Pre-Birth Assessment for the Unborn child, alongside a support plan of their own. |
| 15.20.5 | There is considerable consensus among practitioners the early stage of pregnancy is a celebratory time, attention to the language used, transparency, measured and change-orientated action, alongside continued exploration to our young people’s own histories and how this may impact on their ability and willingness to engage with services, constitute best practice. |
Principles
| 15.20.6 | The principles that underpin this protocol:
|
Process for Care Leavers
| 15.20.7 | Young people aged 18-25 open to the Leaving Care Team. This applies to either parent of the unborn child, not just the expectant pregant person. |
| 15.20.8 | Young people aged 21+ and closed to the Leaving Care Team. This applies to either parent of the unborn child, not just the expectant pregnant person. |
| 15.20.9 | If the threshold for social care intervention has been agreed for the unborn baby, they will be opened to Social Care to allow for a pre-birth assessment take place. |
Package of support available to all expectant parents within Brighton and Hove
| 15.20.10 | Baby Box Project Box of items up to the value of £50 for new-born baby including nappies, first aid kit, blankets, toiletries etc. One off grant of £200 to purchase item/s of choice for new-born baby Parent and Baby Group Weekly group available for all care leavers and their children up to school age, held at Tarner Children Centre. Tea, coffee and snacks available plus access to indoor and outdoor activities Bright PiP Offer of 1:1 support from psychologist to support care leavers becoming and being parents with children up to age of 3 Psychologist from the charity attends our Parent and Baby group every 3 weeks to meet parents in group setting We are currently developing workshops both in person and online to reach a wider audience |