A window of opportunity
Understanding the needs and experiences of pregnant women and recent mothers in the community in England
Clinks and Birth Companions have come together to publish a report providing valuable evidence on the needs and experiences of pregnant women and early mothers in contact with the criminal justice system in the community context.
Based on the lived experiences of these women and those involved in their care, we have made 16 recommendations for change aimed at criminal justice agencies, health services, voluntary sector organisations and social services.
The report, commissioned by the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, and funded by the Department for Health and Social Care, was informed by surveys that we conducted with professionals in the voluntary sector and specialist midwives, as well as interviews with women with lived experience and the voluntary sector organisations that work with them.
Key findings:
- Women in the community have highly complex needs
- Services lack recognition and responsiveness to the highly complex needs associated with pregnancy and recent motherhood
- Women experience fear, stigma and judgment
- Success factors include effective partnership work, the input of a key advocate for women, through the gate services and women being central to the management of their own cases
- Recommendations include that all statutory agencies should ensure their current and future provision supports a trauma-informed, holistic and culturally appropriate approach to working with pregnant women and recent mothers, and the voluntary sector being recognised and supported as strategic partners in the design and delivery of services.
Join Clinks and Birth Companions at our launch event on the 27th of May with a range of stakeholders from health, justice, and the voluntary sector where we will look at the report's key findings, discuss the recommendations, and provide a space to come together to reflect on the role of both the voluntary and statutory sectors in improving experiences and outcomes for pregnant women and recent mothers in the community. You can register for the event here.
Download the report here
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