Social involved when 16 weeks pregnant

[carolyndiane01]

I'm 13 +1 weeks and I'm freaking out. I've been told that once I'm 16 weeks that I'm going to have social services involved with my baby. They have said it's because I was in care when I was younger. I left care when I was 16. I'm 19 now. Ivw got my own place and am financially stable. Im scared because I dont know what to expect. Has anyone else been in this situation, and if so can you tell me what to expect. Thank you

Who told you that?

Don’t you have a Personal Adviser as you are a care leaver?
In the SW it’s not automatic your baby will have a social worker just because you are a care leaver though

There's a checklist of risk factors that the midwives run through at your first appointment.

Being a younger mother and having been in care yourself will both be ticks on that risk assessment.

If there are no other concerns then it means is that you will be offered extra support. It's not a judgement on you personally, it's recognition that you may benefit from definitely getting a place on NHS antenatal classes and may not have as much family support as other mums to be.

Social workers have an important role in supporting people to live well. They don't exist solely to take children away.

If you were looked after yourself then at 19 you should have support from the leaving care team - do you have an advisor? They would be a good person to speak to.

It might be to offer you Family Nurse Partnership support which is a really great initiative to support mums to be who are 19 and younger.