Pre Birth Initial Child Protection Conference

[BettyBlue712]

Hi Mumsnet

I hope this is posted in the correct place.

I was recently referred children’s service whilst pregnant. This initially began as a ‘section 17 assessment’. I have been told they are now holding a strategy meeting for a ‘section 47 assessment’ and it will be going to a pre birth initial child protection conference.

I have been told that even before the strategy meeting, assessment and conference my child will be placed on the minimum of a child protection plan whilst pregnant and after birth.

I’m slightly confused as I thought the next step after child protection was removal at birth?

Could anyone advise me on what to expect over the next couple of months, I’m in my second trimester so a little bit to go…

Does the confirmation of a cp early on in pregnancy pretty much mean removal at birth? It’s difficult as I’m trying to predict what the social workers are going to do before they tell me.

I’m literally asking for advice on how to patch things up with the social worker so we can have a better relationship. That is prioritising my baby.

I can’t answer what I’d do because I don’t know. You make a fair point though. There’s too many ‘what ifs’ for children’s services to allow me to take my baby home. If you and other posters are thinking/saying it then that’s exactly what a professional will think.

I need to consider my options. Thanks for your input.

There is no assessment or consideration for removing your child. You are catastrophising.

Do you have an out of hours number for your mental health team? Please phone them.

This has been explained before, but to remind you, you would be very much aware if social care were considering a care order for your child. You'd have paper work to this effect and would be asked to contact a solicitor.

This isn't happening. They are instead looking to create a Child Protection Plan. That is not about removing your your child. It is recognising you need support and putting a plan in place to provide that support.

No I don’t have an out of hours number for my mental health team because I’m not unwell… OOH mh care is pretty much for people who are suicidal too…

I wish people would understand that people with mental illness can be upset/anxious/frightened separately to being unwell.

If I had acute psychosis or mania I would not be on Mumsnet.

Children’s Services wouldn’t have given me the paperwork for removal yet as I believe they do this very late into the pregnancy. As you’ve said, there are lots of ifs/buts, it’s my opinion that these grey areas will mean children’s services remove my child at birth and I’m trying to avoid this happening.

You need to ask your midwives for help and advice and they should have a perinatal mental health team that can talk you through.
Sorry this is so stressful for you x

I have a perinatal mental health team.

I’m just so bloody stressed. I need to know what their plan is and literally no one will tell me. If I knew what they were thinking I could work with it but I literally don’t have any idea apart from ‘minimum of cp’

I can’t comment on your specific situation but it looks from the outside that you need someone to be with you at all meetings as an eye witness/extra listening ear/someone providing you emotional support. It could be your mum and it would show her commitment to be your support network.
By the way you can’t be sure what exactly your SW has said to your ex. It might be your ex shit stirring for whatever reason. Just bear the possibility of this in mind.
Hope you’ll get the support you need.

You could try emailing Support Not Separation?
[email protected]
supportnotseparation.blog/
They often help mothers working with social services.

And also Family Rights Group who have a helpline you can call
https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/

They don’t know yet. They can’t tell you because they don’t know.

They would, if they did. They told my sister, who has bipolar, that her children would be removed at birth. They were. It was no great secret. They lined up who they would live with ahead of time. It was planned and organised.

Random people on the internet don’t matter. What matters is you working with the services to show that you have the support network; and the will, to look after your baby. Your love for them already shows. You can do this. You’ve started to engage.

Don’t catastrophise now based on some random online opinions.

I do catastrophise unfortunately as I think I’m so used to everything going wrong.

Do you mind me asking why your sisters DC were removed at birth? Was it because she has bipolar or was there more to it; her refusing treatment etc?

I don’t expect an answer but if you don’t mind sharing what you feel comfortable with I’d be appreciative x

I forgot to add - was she told a few days before or did she have weeks/months to prepare herself?

Hi op

I'm a nurse. I work on neonatal so work with maternity a lot.

I can tell you what happens with us/our maternity with someone in your situation if that would help,

In baby's medical notes a social risk plan would be inserted.

On the plan will state why you have a social worker

We document when you visit and how you interact. We are not there to judge you we are there to support

(Not saying your baby will need to be on neonatal but same goes for maternity with us)

There will also be contact details for us to inform social services that baby has been born.

It's very very rare babies don't go home with mum. There is lots of processes, parenting assessment (which they can't do until baby is born) housing assessment (to make sure your housing is suitable)

And as you're working with pediments health midwife she will continue to follow you up afterwards.

You sound as though you have a good support network with your mum, and your ex. So if you were to be unwell they will hopefully be reassured that your mum would be perfectly capable of helping to take care of baby until you're back on your feet.

Social services can't tell you a plan right now because they don't know what will happen after the birth. It's better for you and social worker to build a good relationship before baby is born and this will help the process afterwards

It's important you continue to attend all appts and meetings both with your care and social services,

It might help to write things down before meetings if you feel there is anything you want to ask/say,

Take your mum with you, this won't be seen as a negative bias thing, she's your support, she will be involved when baby is born so they need to get to know each other too (your mum and social worker)

Good luck op!

Hey, I've read your whole thread and I just wanted to say, as a random stranger on the internet, that I'm rooting for you and I really hope you're able to work it out and work with the social workers, and you get to go home with your baby.

If you and other posters are thinking/saying it then that’s exactly what a professional will think.

No, OP, that is not how it works. Professionals will see things differently, and you cannot extrapolate from here- especially since not everyone here is agreeing or seeing things the same way. You are focusing on what fits your fears. Understandable when anxious, but unhelpful and likely to make you more anxious rather than less.

You, as you have acknowledged, are catastrophizing and seeking complete certainty. But no one can give it to you yet and your constant overthinking about it, although it is you trying to make yourself more certain, is feeding your anxiety. I know this increases the stress on you. And that can be a risk factor for MH. But as others have pointed out, they cant tell you a plan that has not been formulated yet.

You have a great plan for yourself - and at the moment it sounds like you have done all you can. Hopefully you have been able to make contact today and can see if the relationship is repairable for you. All we can focus on is what we can do to help ourselves.

I hope you are feeling ok and it went well today.