Need advise

[Bellaboo123]

This might be a long one but I'll try to get everything in I can. When I was 16 I had my first child in 2010 then my second in 2013 with the same partner who is the same age SS got involved during my first pregnancy with us being so young and my partner having adhd and being let's say not a very good boy growing up. but the only came a couple of times then they were fine until we moved into out own house a year later but then again we had a couple of visits then were fine. I fell pregnant with my youngest and everything was fine up until he was about 3 month when my partner started struggling and secretly drinking alot and now an again would be abit violent nothing major. Anyway a few month passes and SS end up getting involved again and basically saw I was struggling with my partners behaviour having a baby and tore us apart. My partner left in the end and moved in with his mam and I had 4 different social workers. He drank and would still basically be there all the time so I moved in with my mam with the boys for then into a womans refuge because of an argument with my mam. A few month pass and I ended up getting back with my partner and his mam ended up getting the boys under special guardianship because of me not being able to protect them and being really bad with my mental health having nobody but my partner at the time everything just fell on top of me at the same time.so almost 7 years pass and SS signed them off altogether about 5 years ago. So much has changed my partner is getting medication now and hasn't drank for 2 years we have a council house and have regular contact with the boys with them stating weekend and school holidays. We also see them practically everyday with no problems whatsoever. My real question is now I'm currently about 8 weeks pregnant (waiting for dating scan to be sure) and I'm just going out of my mind, I can't sleep its bringing me down so much. We have been signed off SS so I'm not sure why they would need to get involved again with this one nothing is wrong with the way we are living or anything my house is fine the kids are fine has anyone ever been in a situation like this before and can give me any advise at all.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Bellaboo123,

Thankyou for your post. I hope that the following advice is of some help to you.

You say that you are in the early stages of pregnancy and would like to know if it is likely that children’s services will become involved. Your previous children were removed from your care and are living with their grandmother under a special guardianship order, however you and your partner have made significant changes in your life and feel that you would be in a position to care for this baby safely.

Firstly, it is very important that you are open and honest with all professionals from the start about your previous involvement with children’s services. At your first midwife appointment you should be asked if you have had previous children’s services involvement and it is important that you say that you have. The midwife will then have a duty to inform children’s services that you are pregnant. Children’s services will then have a duty to consider whether they feel that it is necessary for them to complete an assessment of your current situation to check that the baby will be safe in your care. It is highly likely that they will decide to undertake a pre-birth assessment. You can use this assessment as an opportunity to demonstrate to children’s services how much things have changed for you and your partner and why you believe that you will be able to keep your baby safe. It is important that you show that you have reflected on what the problems were previously and that you show insight into why your older children were removed. Once the pre-birth assessment is completed the social worker may either recommend that no further action is needed and that the case can be closed, or they may suggest a child in need plan or a child protection plan, or if they are very concerned about the baby’s safety they may decide to begin the pre-proceedings process.

We have information on our website HERE and HERE for parents in your situation so I would encourage you to read this for further advice.

I hope that this is of some help. Please post again if you would like any further advice or you can call our free confidential helpline on 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm) to speak with an adviser.

Best wishes,
Suzie