Working with women affected by children’s social care involvement in pregnancy and early motherhood: Insights from recent Birth Companions work

Children’s social care (CSC) involvement during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life – the period known as the ‘1001 critical days’ – can have a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of both mothers and infants. By putting bonding and attachment between mothers and their babies at risk, this can pose long-term implications for children’s emotional and psychological development. Drawing on findings from Birth Companions’ recent projects with women with lived experience of CSC involvement, this article offers insight into the mental health impacts of assessment and/or care proceedings during the first 1001 days. The article also outlines key principles for all those working with women in these circumstances, published in the form of the Birth Companions Birth Charter for women with involvement from children’s social care (2023c). This aims to embed improved practice across all systems and services working with women with CSC involvement. Key recommendations focus on the significance of trauma-informed care for women, and the centralisation of pregnancy and early motherhood in multi-agency practice. Birth Companions is calling for this to be driven forward in the form of a joint national health and social care pathway for pregnant women and mothers of infants who are subject to pre-birth or parenting assessment, or child protection proceedings, to guide the care and support they receive up to their child’s second birthday.