Children/Young People Under 18 Who Become Parents

AMENDMENT

This chapter was updated in May 2023.

1. Introduction

This guidance is for social workers working with children/young people under the age of 18 who become parents.

This guidance covers situations where:

  • The young parent is already looked after;
  • The young parent may become looked after as a result of the pregnancy;
  • The young parent is open to children's social work services;
  • There are safeguarding concerns regarding the baby;
  • The young parent is under 16.

In all the above circumstances, the unborn baby should be referred to Front Door for Families. Children who become parents under the age of 16 should be referred to Front Door for Families in their own right.

The guidance addresses the possible different situations and legal status of parents and babies. Social workers should always seek legal advice to clarify the status of parents and babies where the parent is under 18 and any of the above scenarios apply.

For all young parents under the age of 18 where the decision is made to carry out a pre-birth assessment, social workers should:

  • Make a referral to the pre-birth drop-in (email: PartnersinChangeHub@brighton-hove.gov.uk). The allocated social workers for the child and the parent to attend;
  • Efforts should be made to hold a Family Group Conference pre-birth;
  • Liaise with midwife for teenage pregnancy;
  • Consider early referral to the Healthy Futures health visitor team;
  • Safeguarding birth plan to be in place one month prior to due date.

2. Parents in Existing Foster Placements

The parent's accommodation and placement will need to be considered in light of the baby arriving:

  • Does the parent need to move placement?
  • What is status of the parent in a new placement? Will they remain looked after?
  • Is a parent and baby placement potentially available for the remainder of parent's minority?
  • Can the parent return to their established placement in the event that baby does not remain in their care?
  • What is proposed for the other parent's involvement and care role?

A referral should be made to EPAP to be involved in planning pre-birth assessment.

3. If a Young Person is Subject to Care Proceedings

If a young parent is subject to care proceedings:

  • At a minimum, legal advice must be sought, and consideration given to PLO pre-proceedings in respect of the baby
  • In most cases a separate application for care proceedings and an ICO will need to be issued in relation to the baby, and consideration given to the baby being joined to the parent's care proceedings.
  • It will be necessary to agree who is to be primary carer in the placement:
    • Parent (where the baby is made subject to an ICO, placement with parents regs apply, see One Space and Placements with Parents Procedure); or
    • Foster carer/Kinship Care carer.

4. If a Young Parent is Looked After

If young parent is looked after (Care Order or S20):

  • The young parent and baby should have separate allocated social workers (including separate ones for each parent, if both are under 18), ideally within the same pod. The pre-birth assessment should be carried out of the baby and separately of each parent if under 18;
  • If the young parent remains looked after once the baby is born, the baby should be subject to a CIN plan at a minimum. If the young parent is subject to a care order, legal advice must be sought in relation to the baby;
  • It will be necessary to agree who is to be primary carer: parent (in which case placement with parents regs apply) or foster carer/Kinship Care carer;
  • If young person is accommodated under S20 agreement as a result of safeguarding concerns, seek legal advice regarding the status of the baby;
  • If young person subject to S20 as a result of UASC status or under Southwark agreement, it may be that baby does not need to become looked after. Legal advice should be sought.

5. Status of the child of a young parent who is not looked after

  • In all cases where the parent with care is under 18 and has a social worker in their own right (eg if they are on a CP or CIN plan, or are a Relevant Child), their child should also have their own social worker. This policy may only be varied in exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Head of Safeguarding. At all times the primary focus should be the needs of the baby.

6. Issues to Consider in Assessment

Issues to consider in assessment:

  • Engagement of both parents; whether they are a looked after child/care leaver; vulnerabilities in own right; exploration of network;
  • Circumstances of conception i.e. consensual relationship, conceived as a result of CSE/rape?
  • Extended family and friends: to be involved pre-birth; viabilities to be completed pre-birth; what supports they are able to offer in the community;
  • Young parents' housing status, how this will change in relation to the arrival of the baby, and parallel planning for housing re whether or not the baby remains in parents' care;
  • Risks of CSE to young person, previous and current; to what extent the baby is also at risk from this network;
  • Long standing family/friend/community relationships for the young parents, to establish a secure base for family life;
  • Adult attachment issues;
  • Does young parent need an advocate?
  • Does either parent have a learning difficulty or disability? If so, follow the Joint Protocol, see 'Working Together to Assess and Support Parents with a Learning Disability or Learning Difficulty' on One Space.