Pre-Birth Child Protection/PLO

[Coconut97]

I know this post will be controversial but I wanted to ask for some advice from people who may have knowledge of this situation.

My unborn baby is on a Child Protection Plan and PLO due to DV relationship and mental health.

I’ve had to attend the hospital on a number of occasions due to complications in my pregnancy. I’ve had sepsis, multiple UTI’s and reduced movements. Do the hospital staff know my child is on a social services plan and are the social workers notified each time I attend the hospital?

I have also read that if you are on a CP plan then there is a police marker on your house, what exactly does this mean?

I also wanted to know what percentage of children are taken at birth when on a CP/PLO Plan? I have been told there won’t be a plan for my baby until a few days before birth (which is next Feb)

TIA

Are you still with your abusive partner?

A police marker generally means that an emergency call from your home is treated with urgency.

No. We broke up and haven’t spoken to them apart from providing updates through Social Services in over 3 months. I have a new number, new email etc and moved address.

Yes the hospital are aware. And yes, the social workers are often informed - it’s usually seen as a good thing that you’re seeking appropriate care during pregnancy

So when I attend and the Midwife puts my information into the system it comes up with a warning that my unborn baby is on CP/PLO plan?

I am asking as I’ve been dealt with my a couple of midwives/medical staff who are acquaintances of mine and I feel so embarrassed that they know my child is on a plan.

I’ve always sought medical help and attended when I’ve had an issue including a 7 day stay for sepsis after a doctor mistreated an infection.

There will likely be a note on your records that your child is subject to a protection plan but it's unlikely to be a pop up (certainly isn't in my area), so unless someone has read back (which they would need a reason to do), they won't necessarily be aware. Social workers would more usually be given a summary towards the date of the child protection meeting eg that you appropriately attended all your health care appts and followed the advice of healthcare professionals.

A police marker on your house means that if you or someone else called police for help at your home address they will respond faster. It's because they know there is a risk to you.

You will be in the best position to keep your baby by engaging fully with healthcare and social work. I hope you have access to mental healthcare as well as physical care. I would also recommend taking a note at each contact and checking with the worker what they are recommending/asking you to do e.g. "so from today, you're advising I see you weekly? Great, I'll do that".

You've been through a lot OP. Wishing you the very best

Thank you, this was a really helpful reply!

The mental health support has been a bit patchy. I’ve been left without medication and had to really chase for it. Social Services haven’t been great either but midwifery and the staff at that maternity unit have been amazing.

Thank you. It has been a stressful few months but baby seems healthy which is the main thing. I’m hoping the fact I’ve engaged with midwifery and done everything possible to keep baby safe even when doctors were dismissing my concerns will be a positive for us x

When there's a risk of violence they can put the marker on your home to ensure that all emergency calls are treated as a high category. My sister had a stalker and a marker was put on her home. We did unfortunately have to use it and I can confirm they come out quickly! Following the arrest, the police drove past the house regularly for a period of time. I think it was once a night or something like that for a number of months and then less frequently for another few months.

I had postpartum mental illness and spent time in a mother and baby unit. We also had need to take my daughter to the paediatric assessment unit at 4 months when she was unwell. Every time we had interactions with the hospital I was asked about social services involvement. I can't remember if I was asked about it in pregnancy. I think it's likely that somewhere in your notes it mentions it tbh. If you think about it practically the purpose of it is to ensure that your baby is protected before it needs protection, purely hypothetical but if something horrendous happened and you got acutely unwell the hospital staff need to know if there are any people who shouldn't be given access to you or potentially you baby without you having to communicate this just in case something happens that means you can't tell them.
Would it put your mind at ease to know what your file says? It might be worth asking your midwife what others can see.

There's no need to be embarrassed. The only person that should be embarrassed is the perpetrator of the violence. Its more common that you think. My mum and both my sisters have been in relationships with domestic abuse and so many women I talk to have experience of shit partners that are borderline abusive or out and out abusive. It's frightening and appalling but it reflects so much more on the men than it does the women. It's might be a small majority of men but as a man will rarely just be abusive to one woman they will do it repeatedly that small majority of men can impact on a much larger group of women.

Take care of yourself, reach out for as much support as you need and keep advocating for you and your baby. Hold your head up high it's not you that should be ashamed