Unborn baby

An Early Permanence placement is sought for a baby boy who is due in six weeks time. Baby is so far growing and developing well, and it has been confirmed by Midwifery that ‘baby is measuring well currently, and mam is having four weekly growth scans and testing for gestational diabetes at home. There was a week of missed apps, but these were all caught up on and rearranged.’ There has been one positive cannabis toxicology, however there is no other known history of mum misusing drugs of alcohol to excess.

This baby is mum’s third child, and the older children live outside of her care. One of the children (aged 6) has been adopted, and the other is living in a long term foster care arrangement due to his additional needs (aged 10, he experienced the most early trauma prior to coming into care). Baby’s older siblings are full siblings and currently have direct contact with each other. It is hoped that baby boy, once born will be able to join these arrangements with their adoptive family in the future.

An early permanence placement is needed due to the historical worries that mum does not have the capacity to safely care for her children. Baby’s mum has had a previous assessment in the past that identified her as having a mild to moderate learning disability, and sadly this impacts on her ability to safely care for the children.

Baby’s dad is currently not available to provide care due to being in prison. There is limited information so far known about paternal wider family members, and the Local Authority have asked Dad to put forward people they wish to be assessed.

Once born baby will need to spend time with mum three times a week, and the Early Permanence carers will need to bring baby to and from the agreed venue and therefore cannot live more than an hour from Newcastle. Currently it is likely family would be offered within a Newcastle Family Time centre.

Ethnic and cultural descent:

White British

Family needed:

Early Permanence carers who can go on to adopt baby, should his plan be agreed by the Court.

Early Permanence carers will need to manage the uncertainty of Court Proceedings, and the unknown’s about paternal family members.

Contact plans:

Six monthly two-way letterbox contact with birth parents and maternal Aunt. It is proposed that direct contact can take place, in addition to letters, 2 - 3 times a year between Baby and his half siblings (one who is adopted, and the other in long term foster care). This direct contact would be arranged between the respective adoptive families.

Legal Status:

There is no legal order in place, as baby is not yet born, however the Local Authority are seeking an Interim Care Order once baby is born.