Edinburgh Napier University

  Key points

Pre-birth involvement forms a small but increasing part of child protection work in Scotland

Social workers have the task of protecting the unborn baby from current risk and making a plan for predicted risks, at the same time as making good working relationships with expectant parents

Pre-birth work remains under-researched and under-theorised

Various models of good practice exist and further opportunities for shared learning from these would be positive to support social workers in developing best practice

There is a need for scoping the national picture and a consideration of whether detailed guidance, specific to pre-birth child protection, could create a more consistent evidence-based approach across Scotland

Practitioners need support for skilled relationship-based practice with parents and recognition of their high level of responsibility in child protection processes

Case conference chairpersons are integral to the current pre-birth child protection process; their approach can enable participation by expectant parents and good multidisciplinary planning for the unborn child