What is a pre-proceedings process? And when might children’s services begin one for an unborn baby?

If children’s services are worried a baby may not be safe at home they may decide they need to begin a pre-proceedings process. Pre-proceedings is the process where children’s services consider whether to start care proceedings.

If they decide to do this, children’s services must send parents to be a letter before proceedings. This letter should include:

• Information about what children’s services are worried about
• Changes they would like see made by the parents to be
• Information about any assessments or courses children’s services think parents should be involved in – before or after the birth
• Any support children’s services can put in place
• An invitation to a pre-proceedings meeting to discuss those concerns.

During this process, children’s services will assess the family and consider whether they need to begin care proceedings to keep the baby safe. The parents or carers will have the chance to show whether they are likely to be able to care safely for their child.

See our Pre-proceedings page for more information.