Undertake a standard response for an unborn child

The purpose of undertaking a standard response before the birth of a child is to offer help and support to the pregnant person to decrease the likelihood of them becoming a need of protection once born. 

The role of Child Safety is to work collaboratively with the pregnant person and support services to decide what help and support can be offered to the pregnant person and, if appropriate, the pregnant person’s partner or the other parent of the child. 

Any action taken by Child Safety during the standard response must not interfere with the rights and liberties of the pregnant person.

Before commencing a standard response for an unborn child, refer to the practice guide Respond to an unborn child.

Commence a standard response for an unborn child

A standard response for an unborn child is considered to have commenced when:

• the pregnant person is contacted and advised of the concerns, and information is obtained that informs the assessment
  or
• new information that informs the assessment about the unborn child’s safety or the family’s needs is sought and received from an external agency. (Refer to Commence a standard response.)

The first contact with the pregnant person must involve Child Safety.

Do not proceed with the assessment if, at the outset the pregnant person states that they:

• were never pregnant or are no longer pregnant, due to a miscarriage or termination
  and
• it has been confirmed with a medical practitioner (or reasonable attempts have been made to do so).

Assess the family's support needs

Engage the pregnant person to:

• assess the family’s support needs, focusing on the issues that may increase the likelihood that the unborn child will be in need of protection following their birth
• coordinate help and support for the pregnant person to address the identified needs and decrease risk to the child.

Assess the family needs for an unborn child and their siblings

If an unborn child and their siblings are listed as subject children, assess the family’s support needs for all the subject children. 

Engage an independent person

For a standard response in relation to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander unborn child, arrange an independent person to help the pregnant person participate in the assessment, if the pregnant person consents (Child Protection Act 1999, section 22(3)).

In addition, determine whether the pregnant person agrees to:

• the family’s participation in the standard response
  and
• the involvement of an independent person to assist the family to participate.

Record whether an independent person helped to facilitate the participation of the pregnant person and the unborn child’s family in the assessment in the independent person tab in Unify.

Take action when a pregnant person cannot be engaged 

If the pregnant person states they are not willing to engage in the assessment with Child Safety or the ASC co-responder, explain the requirement for Child Safety to respond to the concerns received.

When all attempts to engage a pregnant person have not been successful, other than when a pregnant person cannot be located: 

• Use the template Engagement letter—Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander unborn child or Engagement letter—non-indigenous unborn child to provide written advice to the pregnant person about
  • the assessment process
  • the pregnant person’s rights
  • help and support the pregnant person may access during pregnancy to decrease the likelihood the unborn child will be in need of protection after the child is born.
• Consider using the differential pathway contact with other professional. (Refer to Consider the differential pathway.)

If the differential pathway is used and the information received from the professional, combined with other information gathered during the assessment allows for the assessment to be finalised and an outcome recorded, there is no requirement to record an unborn child high risk alert.

If after reasonable attempts, a pregnant person remains unwilling to engage in the assessment and:

• the differential pathway cannot be used
  or
• the differential pathway was used, but the information provided by the other professional suggests increased risk to the unborn child after the child’s birth
  
  take the following action:
• Record an HRA Form 1 unborn child high risk alert in Unify (HRA Form 1) (Refer to Complete an unborn child high risk alert.)
• Close the standard response with a no assessment completed outcome.

Take action when a pregnant person cannot be located

If the pregnant person cannot be located after reasonable attempts have been made to locate them:

• Seek information from external agencies to inform the assessment, if possible.
• Record an HRA Form 1 in Unify. (Refer to Complete an unborn child high risk alert.)
• Close the assessment case in Unify with a no assessment completed outcome.

Escalate a priority response for an unborn child

If a standard response for an unborn child requires escalation, refer to Escalate to a priority response.

Record the standard response outcome for an unborn child

Record the appropriate outcome for the standard response in Unify. (Refer to Decide the outcome of a standard response.)

Respond following the birth of a child

If a standard response for an unborn child was finalised prior to the birth of the child with an outcome of either Pregnant person declined help and support, no assessment completed or Pregnant person declined help and support, partial assessment completed, and an HRA Form 1 was recorded:

• Queensland Health will send an ‘HRA Form 2 unborn child high risk alert: notification that pregnant person has presented for delivery’ to the RIS nominated in the HRA Form 1. 
• The RIS will assess the information, including
  • the concerns received that formed the basis for the original notification
  • any concerns received since the original notification 
  • any information gathered since the original notification
• The RIS will decide the appropriate response to ensure the child’s safety.