Pre Birth Risk Assessments
Last updated: October 7, 2008
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Some prospective parents may need additional support during the pregnancy and for the care of their baby or in some circumstances it may be anticipated that the baby yet to be born will be at significant harm.
For those involved with pregnant women, irrespective of age, there is a need to be mindful of safeguarding issues and some early indicators for having concerns may be due the following:
- either or both parents have mental health problems
- either or both parents have a learning disability
- either or both parents are teenagers
- either or both parent abuse substances ? alcohol or drugs
- where previous children in the family have been removed because they have suffered harm.
- where a person who has previously harmed or someone found by an initial child protection conference to have abused has joined a family.
- where concerns exist regarding the mother’s ability to protect
- where there are concerns about domestic violence
- a parent or other adult in the household, or regular visitor, has been identified as posing a risk to children
- a child in the household is the subject of a child protection plan;
- a sibling has previously been removed from the household either temporarily or by court order;
- the parent is a looked after child
- any other concern exists that the baby may be at risk of significant harm including a parent previously suspected of fabricating or inducing illness in a child or harming a child;
- a child aged under 13 is found to be pregnant
