Introduction
The National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland outlines that the prenatal period offers a unique window of opportunity to safeguard both the unborn child and the wider family. UNCRC makes it clear all children need safeguarding and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth; and Article 24(2)(d) requires public authorities to ensure appropriate prenatal and post-natal health care for mothers.
The National Guidance reflects the GIRFEC approach to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children before birth, ensuring timely, proportionate and rights-focused intervention.
Services across health, social work, education, police and early years must be alert to how parental circumstances—such as substance misuse, domestic abuse, mental health difficulties or previous child removals—may place an unborn baby at risk.
Early multi-agency assessment is critical. A pre-birth Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD) should be initiated if significant risks are identified. A pre-birth Child Protection Planning Meeting should normally take place by 28 weeks’ gestation, or within 28 days of concerns being raised, to plan coordinated support and safeguard both the unborn child and the mother.
Pre-birth risk assessments should be coordinated by a social worker, in close collaboration with midwives, family nurses, health visitors, GPs and adult services. This multi-disciplinary process enables early and supportive engagement with families to plan effectively both before and after the birth.
In Forth Valley our Multi Agency Pre Birth Pathway is rooted in the GIRFEC principles of early intervention, trauma-informed practice, rights-based planning and partnership working. Ensuring that children’s needs are identified and responded to as early as possible.
FV-Pre-Birth-Pathway-dec2024-1.docx
Falkirk Resources:
Pre-Birth-Assessment-Guidance.docx
Pre-Birth-Assessment-tool.docx
Pre-birth-Risk-Assessment-Check-List.docx
Clackmannanshire Resources:
Stirling Resources:
