D is a 17-year-old young woman with learning needs who became a first-time parent following the premature birth of her baby. Due to the baby’s early arrival and associated health needs, both mother and child required ongoing support from health professionals and children’s services.
Concerns were raised regarding D’s ability to safely care for her baby independently, given her age, additional learning needs, being homeless, and the complexity of managing a premature infant’s medical requirements. As a result, Children’s Services initiated child protection processes, and consideration was being given to alternative long-term arrangements, including placement through adoption or a Special Guardianship Order (SGO).
D was unsure what she wanted to do, the prospect of caring for her baby was daunting. She didn’t feel ready and was not aware that she was pregnant until the contractions started. Her parents were divorced and both sets known to children’s services.
Key Risks and Needs Identified
- Young parenthood combined with mild learning needs requiring information and processes to be adapted to support understanding
- Not having secure accommodation
- Caring for a premature infant with additional health needs and complex routines
- Risk of family separation through care planning processes
- Anxiety and emotional distress associated with child protection proceedings
- Difficulties navigating statutory systems and understanding professional decision-making
- Need for advocacy to ensure meaningful participation in assessments, meetings, and planning processes
Advocacy Intervention
Advocacy support was provided throughout the child protection process to ensure that D’s views, wishes, and feelings were understood and considered within decision-making. A rights-based, person-centred approach was adopted, recognising D’s entitlement to participate fully in proceedings affecting both her and her child.
Key interventions included:
- Providing accessible information, ensuring child protection processes, assessments, and professional discussions were explained in a way that reflected D’s communication needs
- Preparation for meetings, helping D understand agendas, identify key concerns, and consider the outcomes she wished to achieve
- Attendance at child protection meetings and professional discussions, supporting D to express her views and ask questions
- Provide a confidential space to allow for time out during meetings.
- Provide a safe space where D could not be coerced by her family into handing her baby over to them.
- Liaising with social workers and partner agencies, ensuring that strengths, progress, and support networks were recognised alongside identified risks
- Promoting strengths-based practice, advocating for consideration of practical support arrangements that would enable D to safely care for her child
- Supporting informed decision-making, ensuring D understood recommendations, expectations, and the implications of different care planning options
Outcomes and Impact
- Family and Relationships: D was able to remain with her baby and establish family life alongside her partner and his father, providing stability and ongoing support
- Identity and Self-Esteem: Increased confidence in her abilities as a young parent and recognition of her strengths and commitment to her child
- Staying Safe and Well: Appropriate support arrangements were identified to promote the wellbeing and safety of both mother and baby
- Making Choices: D actively participated in decisions affecting her future and that of her child, ensuring her wishes and aspirations informed planning
- Learning and Independence: Improved understanding of parenting expectations, child development, and the support available to sustain family life
Impact and Added Value of Advocacy
Advocacy played a critical role in ensuring that D was able to participate meaningfully. By adapting communication, preparing her for meetings, and supporting her engagement with professionals, advocacy helped to reduce barriers associated with her learning needs and promoted participation in decision-making.
The intervention contributed to:
- Increased confidence and engagement throughout child protection proceedings
- Greater recognition of D’s strengths, motivation, and capacity to parent with appropriate support
- More balanced decision-making that considered both risks and protective factors
- Prevention of unnecessary family separation through the identification of sustainable support arrangements
As a result, Children’s Services agreed that D could care for her baby within a supported family environment, living with her partner and his father, rather than pursuing alternative permanence arrangements.
Voice of the Young Parent Carer
“People talked about my baby being taken away, but having someone there to explain things and listen to me meant I could show that I wanted to be a good mum and that I could do it with support.”
Feedback from Social Worker
“I would like to express my sincere thanks for providing such an excellent advocate for D.
She was truly outstanding. She demonstrated excellent listening skills and provided thoughtful guidance to both D and her partner, N.
During the meeting held on 5th June, the advocate managed the dynamics exceptionally well. While there were challenges, particularly with D’s mother attempting to take control of the meeting, the advocate handled the situation professionally. She took D and N aside, gave them the opportunity to share their views openly, and then effectively communicated their perspectives back to the wider group.
Her intervention helped to calm the situation and ensured that all voices were heard. It was impressive to see how confidently and sensitively she advocated on behalf of D.
I would rate her 10/10—she is an excellent advocate and a real asset.”
Learning and Service Insight
This case demonstrates the importance of independent advocacy for young parents with learning needs involved in child protection processes. Advocacy can help ensure that vulnerabilities are not mistaken for incapacity and that young parents are provided with accessible information, opportunities to participate, and appropriate support to demonstrate their strengths.
It highlights the value of strengths-based and rights-focused practice in promoting family preservation where safe and achievable, ensuring that decisions are informed not only by risk but also by potential, resilience, and available support networks.
To find out more about how Sandwell Advocacy is supporting young carers and their parents, please visit our SAYC project page.