Mid Cheshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (MCHFT) has a statutory duty to ensure that it safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and also protects vulnerable adults from abuse or the risk of abuse.
All children need to be safe, nurtured and able to thrive. The early care they receive provides the essential foundations for all future physical, social and emotional development. Some expectant parents who present for maternity care have complex social needs such as mental health, drug and alcohol and domestic abuse issues that can affect their parenting capacity that sadly may cause their babies to suffer abuse and /or neglect.
Some families require either additional or intensive support in order to parent children safely.
The Enhanced Midwifery Team advise and support vulnerable families by liaising with other agencies across Cheshire, including children’s social care, drug and alcohol services, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors, etc. to create a supportive plan for the future.
All referrals to the team are assessed in order of priority and allocated in accordance with the geographical area of the family.
A Lead Midwife then assesses what package of care is required, depending on the emerging problems. All assessments reflect the Child Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare Assessment Framework; the unborn development needs, the capacity of parents and the impact / influence of wider family and other adults.
How to access the service
This is a referral only service. Referrals are mainly received from Midwives, Children’s Social Care and the Police. There is no self referral facility to this service.
