A perinatal parenting assessment looks at parenting capacity from before a baby is born through the early months of life, giving local authorities and courts the earliest possible evidence base for decision-making. At Family Safeguarding Assessments (FSA), our perinatal assessments are designed to identify concerns and strengths as early as possible, so that support or, where necessary, safeguarding action can begin without delay.
Concerns about a baby’s safety often emerge before birth, whether due to a parent’s history, current circumstances, or professional judgement during pregnancy. Addressing these concerns early, through a structured perinatal parenting assessment, gives families the best chance to demonstrate positive change and gives local authorities and courts the evidence they need to make timely, well-informed decisions rather than waiting until after birth to begin assessing risk.
Our pre-birth parenting assessments begin during pregnancy, assessing a parent’s preparedness, understanding of a baby’s needs, and any relevant risk factors identified by the referring agency. This may include working alongside midwifery services, health visitors, and other professionals already involved with the family, to build as complete a picture as possible ahead of the birth.
Starting this work pre-birth allows any necessary support parenting education, practical preparation, or coordination with other services to be put in place before the baby arrives, rather than reacting after a safeguarding concern has already materialised.
Following birth, FSA carries out mother and baby parenting assessments and wider parent and baby assessments, observing the developing relationship between parent and child in the family’s own home. Our Family Support Workers and Independent Social Workers look at bonding and attachment, feeding and care routines, responsiveness to the baby’s needs, and the parent’s ability to manage the practical and emotional demands of early parenthood.
As with our other assessments, this work is carried out using recognised, evidence-based frameworks, and can be adapted in structure depending on the Letter of Instruction from the referring local authority or solicitor.
Referrals are usually made by social services, midwifery or health visiting teams, or solicitors, often during pregnancy. Our Consultant Social Worker reviews the referral and confirms availability promptly.
Where the assessment begins ahead of birth, our team engages with the expectant parent(s), reviewing relevant history and beginning observation and support work in preparation for the baby's arrival.
Following birth, assessment continues in the family home, with structured observation of bonding, care routines, and the parent's response to the baby's needs, supported by regular reporting shared transparently with parents.
As with all FSA assessments, findings are brought together into a clear analysis of risks and protective factors, with recommendations shared with both the family and the referring agency.
FSA’s perinatal assessments support local authorities, solicitors, and children’s guardians involved in cases where concerns exist before or shortly after a child’s birth, including cases proceeding under Public Law Outline (PLO) or family court directions. As with our other services, we consider urgent and emergency referrals where timescales are limited.
A perinatal parenting assessment evaluates parenting capacity across the period from pregnancy through to early infancy, combining pre-birth preparation with post-birth observation of the parent-baby relationship.
Yes. Our pre-birth parenting assessments begin during pregnancy where a referral is made early enough, allowing support and preparation to take place before the birth.
A mother and baby assessment focuses specifically on the early relationship between parent and newborn bonding, attachment, and care routines during a particularly sensitive developmental window, rather than assessing an older child’s needs.
Referrals typically come from local authorities, solicitors, midwifery or health visiting services, and children’s guardians.
To discuss a referral, contact us or call 02086293951.
At Family Safeguarding Assessments (FSA), we understand the importance of keeping families together while ensuring the safety and well-being of children
