Understanding pre-birth assessments:

Kent and Medway Pre-Birth Procedure provides guidance and information to practitioners in Kent and Medway on safeguarding unborn children where the risk of harm is anticipated.

In Medway there is a Threshold guidance that practioners are able to use if they are working with an expectant parent who has concerns to the welfare of the unborn child. The Threshod guidance allows them to review the level of need for children in need. 

An appropriate referral within Medway should be made if there is likelihood that:

• the unborn child has/will have high level intensive needs
• the needs of the unborn child are likely to be so great that statutory specialist intervention is required to keep them safe or ensure their continued development or, the unborn child is at risk of significant harm.

These concerns should be shared with the prospective parents and consent should be obtained to refer to the local authority children’s social care services unless this action may place the welfare of the unborn child at risk. 

Referrals for support should be made as soon as concerns have been identified which indicate that the unborn is at risk of significant harm, and no later than 18 weeks into the pregnancy. It may be that concerns are not known until later on in the pregnancy at which point a referral/request for support should be made.

The impact of Domestic Abuse on the unborn child:

• Mother may be prevented from attending antental appoitments
• High levels of stress expereinced by an expectant mother may negitvly affect the development of the unborn baby's nervous system and brain
• Mother may rely on substance misuse due to poor mental health which can affect foetal growth and result in life long problems 

Pre-birth and propsed discharge plan:

The aim of a pre-birth and discharge plan is to ensure there is a clear and agreed plan for the mother and baby following the birth, including details of who can or cannot visit and any agency risk assessments or other arrangements in place for any parties. A pre-birth plan should be completed by 34 weeks and in place prior to the baby being born. 

A pre-birth plan should be made for all unborn children who are:

• subject of a child protection plan
• subject of a pre-birth assessment
• subject of a public law outline (PLO) meeting held between the local authority children’s social care services and parent/s

This plan should be made durning a multi-agency meeting.