Pre Birth Assessment

[Tinkerbell67]

Can anyone please advise where we stand...

Midwife did a really late referral at 25 weeks.

Social Worker has seen us twice and is supposed to be doing the pre birth assessment off 2 visits.

We had a CIN meeting no concerns although there is only limited other professionals involved.

Midwife offered a referral to perinatal mental health but I declined as I don't feel it's necessary I've had therapy and use my skills and not been medicated for 5 years but I said I'd reach out if needed.

Social Worker is trying to say her manager will have concerns that I haven't seen perinatal mental health even though no issues have been raised surrounding mental health and put baby on Child protection instead of CIN.

Social Worker asked about whether we'd like to do a parenting assessment and I said not really, there doesn't feel like there's been any real support offered from the CIN no real plans where do we stand ?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Tinkerbell67,

Thank you for your post. Welcome to the parents’ forum.
I am Suzie, an online adviser responding to your enquiry today.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

You write that your midwife referred you to children’s services at 25 week’s gestation and a social worker has visited you twice and is currently preparing the pre-birth assessment based on these meetings. You can read about good practice for pre-birth assessments here.
Information for parents to be from the Family Rights Group website is here.

You explain that a child in need plan has been offered to assist you and your unborn child, but you are not finding the support useful.
You explain that the social worker has suggested that you engage with the peri-natal mental health team and has told you that her manager may feel this is necessary. You have not agreed to the referral, pointing out that you have previously completed therapy; learned strategies to support your wellbeing and not needed medication for the past five years.
Clearly, it is your decision as to whether to accept a referral to the perinatal mental health team. It may be that the social worker sees this as a useful preventative measure, as childbirth and early days of motherhood can present unpredictable challenges and an extra focus on good mental health maintenance could be wise. You can read more about how children’s services should work with parents with current or historical mental health concerns here.

Participation in a child in need plan is voluntary for parents, however if children’s services feel that the plan is not sufficient to address any risks or concerns for a child they could change their approach. You mention that the social worker told you that her manager may feel that involvement of the perinatal mental health team would reassure that any potential risks are being addressed, and that if concerns escalate a child protection plan may be pursued. A child protection plan is not voluntary. You can read more about child in need plans here and child protection plans here.

You write that the social worker has asked if you would like to complete a parenting assessment. I think it is important that you clarify the social worker and her manager’s expectations on this before making a final decision.

Maybe you, the social worker and the other professionals in the child in need core group need to review the child in need plan. You should think about what could be helpful to you at this time and in the early days after your baby is born. You can read more about help available here.

You may also find the guide to working with social workers useful here .

Birth companions are a support organisation that aim to ensure every mother can give her baby the best possible start in life, whatever her circumstances. Their website here has links to very useful resources about support available and discussions of different issues that may be relevant to you at this time.

I hope this information was useful to you. Please feel free to come back to us for further support.

There are many different ways to contact Family Rights Group.

• A free telephone advice line open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0808 801 0366
• Easy-to-follow online information. Features include an A-Z, FAQs, films, ‘top tips’ and legal advice sheets;
• A webchat service where you can message an adviser online, who will help you find information and advice to support you.
• A web enquiry form – to help you submit an email and receive a reply within five working days.

Best wishes,
Suzie

[Tinkerbell67]

Hi Suzie

Thankyou for your reply.
Sorry I have taken so long to respond so a quick update the social worker failed to complete any pre birth assessment missed numerous visits,we still don't have any real CIN plan we have no other outside services involved the social worker then left and we were given a new one who is also leaving and are being given another one again.

It's becoming extremely frustrating as you can imagine and they've openly admitted that they have failed us in the CIN meeting.

They only visit once a month with no real concerns or not at all.

They are still trying to push for a parenting assessment I'm not sure where we stand as I know CIN is voluntary and I'm in two minds whether to say enoughs enough but don't want them trying to put us on CP if we refuse.

What is your thoughts.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Tinkerbell67,

Thank you for your updating post. I am sorry to hear how frustrating this process has been for you and that you haven’t been offered any helpful support during this time.

As you know, the child in need process is voluntary. If there is no evidence to suggest that your child might be at risk of harm then children’s services will not be able to put a child protection plan in place. In order to do this they must demonstrate that a child is, or might be, at risk of harm.

However, I cannot advise you how likely it is that children’s services would escalate this to the child protection process if you do not consent to a parenting assessment. I would advise that you speak with the social worker to ask them if this is likely or not. You can then hopefully make a more informed decision.

At some point you may wish to consider making a formal complaint about the missed visits and lack of a CIN plan many months into the process. We have more information and advice HERE about making formal complaints.

I hope this is of some help,

Best wishes,
Suzie

[Tinkerbell67]

I thought I'd update you so they decided that they didn't need to do a parenting assessment at all after keeping on about it and allowed us to end the CIN which I asked was the manager in agreement with before agreeing to end it, no child protection as their was never any ground for.

So we are now living our life and bringing our daughter up without their involvement.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Tinkerbell67

Welcome back to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you very much for taking the time to send an updating post and for sharing your positive outcome. It is good to hear that the child in need plan for your baby daughter has ended, you also did not have to do the parenting assessment that children’s services were recommending. You are now raising your baby with no ongoing social work involvement.

It sounds as if you managed a difficult and distressing situation very well. I am sure that your positive news will be welcomed by other parents on this board.

Congratulations and best wishes.

Suzie

[Winter25]

I thought I'd update you so they decided that they didn't need to do a parenting assessment at all after keeping on about it and allowed us to end the CIN which I asked was the manager in agreement with before agreeing to end it, no child protection as their was never any ground for.

So we are now living our life and bringing our daughter up without their involvement.

AMAZING well done, exactly as it should be.