Contract Award

The requirements at Her Majesty's Prison and Young Offenders Institution HMP Askham Grange for pregnancy and Mother and Baby Unit Services during the custodial period, prior and immediately following release.

The primary aim is to support pregnant women, mothers, babies and through the provision of nursery services for the babies and general support of Mothers and pregnant women to actively engage with their parental responsibility in custody and enable them to access appropriate support in their communities.

Strategic Aims

The strategic aims of the service are:

• To prevent separation between mothers and babies eligible for an MBU placement where this is in the best interests of the child, which in turn reduces the risk of reoffending and the resulting social economic impact
• To identify and respond to individual needs of pregnant women, mothers and babies, including any barriers for specific groups in relation to protected characteristics
• To promote and support mothers in their parental responsibility, by delivering routine and targeted parenting support and guidance
• To enable pregnant women and mothers to continue to engage with the prison regime whilst caring for their children, including contributions to wider care planning and information sharing and recording in relation to women's progress
• To raise awareness and support prison staff to deliver effective support to pregnant women and mothers when in custody
• Ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing of pregnant women, mothers and babies
• ensure liaison and engagement with community support services such as healthcare services and children's services and continuity of this on release