Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Maternity Services: Implications for Practice

Abstract

This article debates the issues involved in safeguarding and protecting children in maternity services and offers implications for professional practice. Midwives and other staff who work as members of the maternity team have a safeguarding role to play in the identification of babies and children who have been abused, or are at risk of abuse, and in subsequent intervention and protection services. Assessing domestic violence as a safeguarding issue has been relatively slow in gaining health professional acceptance even though the international evidence suggests that there are irrefutable links between domestic violence and child abuse. Domestic violence increases during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and is significantly related to all three types of child maltreatment up to the child's fifth year, with children under one year being at the highest risk of injury, or death. However, midwives need greater exposure to and familiarity with recommended safeguarding good practice; and must be able to identify and support abused women and children with a joined-up approach that has adequate resources and the support of health service managers. Close inter-agency liaison is required with midwives who are accountable and not afraid to challenge historical working practices, and who are willing to work across traditional boundaries to promote and maintain child safety.