FNP visits not helpful

[ProtectiveMum]

My 20yr old daughter has agreed to the FNP visiting her initially but after 3-4 visits my daughter has expressed she no longer likes her or needs her or finds her helpful &the FNP hasn’t been doing what she says she’ll do’so say helping’ . My daughters unborn baby is under a CP plan and the FNP is part of the core team involved. My question is can my daughter refuse visits from the FNP now or after baby is born.? Thank you

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Protective Mum,

Welcome to the Parents’ Forum and thank you for your post.

My name is Suzie, and I am an online adviser replying to your question today.
You explain that your 20-year-old daughter is pregnant and her unborn child is on a child protection plan. The child protection plan details the risks that children’s services and other professionals are concerned about and sets out the ways in which these can be lessened and managed. You can read more about child protection plans here.

The referral to the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) was part of this plan and you point out that the practitioner is part of the core group that meets regularly to review the child protection plan.

Family Nurse Partnership teams recruit first-time mothers aged up to 24. It is an intensive 1 to 1 programme only available in some parts of England.

Each mother is partnered with a specially trained family nurse. The family nurse visits the mother regularly from early pregnancy until their child is aged between one and two years. Family nurses work with mothers for mothers to help them think about their needs during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood, focussing on the mother’s strengths and addressing any support needs and disadvantages she may have. You can read more about Family Nurse Partnership here

I am sorry to hear that your daughter is not finding FNP helpful so far.
I would advise your daughter to talk over the difficulties rather than refuse the visits. This is a very important stage. The social worker involved will be assessing whether your daughter is willing to work collaboratively with children’s services and the other support services on the child protection plan. If it is felt that she is refusing help without first talking it over, the social worker could become worried that your daughter is not able or willing to work together with the core group on the child protection plan for her unborn baby.
You can read more about the different stages and decisions in how children’s services work with parents to be here.

You mention that the FNP Practitioner has made 3-4 visits, so it does seem that they are at a beginning stage of getting to know each other. Your daughter is no doubt getting used to many new experiences and demands. She is dealing with several new professionals who are suddenly involved in her life, and this can be a huge challenge. She may need a bit of time to process her emotional reaction to all these changes and new faces. I wonder if your daughter could talk over the ways in which she is not finding the service helpful with the FNP Practitioner and her manager to see if any adjustments could be made. Your daughter should also talk this setback over with the social worker for her unborn child.

Your daughter may find the Family Rights Group guide to working with social workers useful. It gives practical advice about working with a professional, addressing setbacks and disagreements and having your voice heard. You can link to it here

Birth Companions is a women’s charity dedicated to tackling inequalities and disadvantage during pregnancy, birth and early motherhood. You or daughter may find useful information and advice and resources on their website here

I hope this information was useful to you and I wish you, your daughter and your grandchild-to-be really well.
There are many different ways to contact Family Rights Group if you seek further advice in the future:

• A free telephone advice line open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0808 801 0366
• Easy-to-follow online information. Features include an A-Z, FAQs, films, ‘top tips’ and legal advice sheets;
• Online forums where families can receive advice, discuss issues, and find support;
• A webchat service where you can message an adviser online, who will help you find information and advice to support you.

Best wishes,
Suzie

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Protective Mum,
I have answered your enquiry on the Parents' forum recently.
If you want to use the forums again on this matter I would ask you to post on the Kinship Carers' forum as a grandparent to be. This would help you to receive responses from others who may have had similar experiences and can share useful insight and advice.

Best wishes,
Suzie