Welcome To Wirral

What’s in this section?

Young Women’s Antenatal Clinic

• Education
• Connexions: Information about returning to education, starting training or finding a job
• Finances, Benefits and Budgeting
• Childcare
• Housing

What support can you expect if you are a pregnant teenager, teenage mother or teenage father?

Young Women’s Antenatal Clinic

The Teenage Pregnancy Midwife at The Young Women's Antenatal Clinic (YWAC) at Arrowe Park Hospital provides extra support to young pregnant women, their partners and families. This is in addition to the normal antenatal and post-natal care young women will receive from their Community Team Midwives. The clinic works as a 'One Stop Shop' where emotional problems as diverse as deciding whether to continue with a pregnancy, telling parents about a pregnancy, mental health issues, domestic violence, drug or alcohol problems etc can be discussed in complete confidence with the Teenage Pregnancy Midwife. Practical problems such as benefits, education, housing etc are also covered by the clinic outreach team. (See information on Outreach Worker).The Clinic is open every Wednesday afternoon at Arrowe Park Hospital and access to the Obstetric Consultant, Smoking Cessation, Drugs and Alcohol Team, Domestic Violence Team and others can be fast tracked asrequired.

In essence, the YWAC contributes towards raising young peoples’ awareness of the services available to them and helps increase their self esteem and confidence whilst empowering them to make fully informed choices about their care. The YWAC also has direct contact with many organisations outside the NHS and can quickly access the most useful means of support and practical help for each individual.

For more information contact the Teenage Pregnancy Midwifery Coordinator on 0151 604 7620.

Young Parents Support Worker (Wirral Brook/Connexions)

Also at the Young Women’s Antenatal Clinic, expectant mothers (and fathers) will have the opportunity to meet the Young Parents Support Worker from Wirral Brook. Their role is to support expectant mothers and fathers with all the other issues that might be worrying them during their pregnancy. We want them to feel as relaxed and confident as possible about becoming a parent and part of that is working with them to put things in order. This could involve benefits situations; it's important to find out what you are entitled to and how to go about making a claim. It could involve housing situations; deciding where you are going to live, who with and finding the place you want often requires time, support and persistence. It could be about education; deciding to stay on at school is always possible and it's also good to explore other options for continuing with learning and/or working towards gaining your qualifications. It may be that they want to talk with someone about how their life is changing, whether that be their relationship with their partner or parents, friendships or social life. Whatever the issue, we are here to listen.

If you a teenage parent or pregnant teenager in Wirral you can call or leave a message for the Young Parents Support Worker on 0151 670 0177.

Education

Mainstream Secondary Schools
Becoming pregnant is not a reason for exclusion if you are school age and have not completed your GCSE’s. Despite what people may have heard, pregnant teenagers can remain in their secondary school with support until they have their baby. Often schools can offer reduced or more flexible timetables both before and after they have the baby, so it’s worth talking to the head of year or form teacher about the options available at your school.

For some pregnant teenagers though, the school they were attending before they became pregnant may not be the best option. If this is the case, there are still options available to continue with studying. A Connexions Personal Advisor, Teenage Pregnancy Midwife or Young Parents Support Worker is available at antenatal appointments.

Wirral Hospital School: THE SEEDLINGS
The Seedlings at Joseph Paxton is a small group of year 10 and 11 pregnant and new mums who are continuing with their GCSE’s. They can carry on with most of the GCSE courses started at school or if they haven’t attended school very regularly, they can start some GCSE courses like English and Maths to help catch up.

We have lots of extras as well as lessons, like a visiting midwife and advice about benefits, housing, health and further education. After the young person has had their baby, we can help with a return to school or we will take them through to exams. While their mums are learning, Seedlings’ babies are looked after in the on-site nursery.

If you want more information about your education options while you are pregnant and after, contact Home Schooling at Wirral Hospital School on 0151 488 7680 or ask your Connexions Personal Advisor or Teenage Pregnancy Midwife.

Other opportunities to learn during pregnancy

Baby Steps
Baby Steps is a group for young parents who are not currently in education, employment or training.

For further information about Baby Steps contact Baby Steps on 0151 644 4700

Children’s Centres
These centres act as the hub for service delivery for support for children under five and their families. Children’s Centres are available for any family or parent-to-be who lives within the Children’s Centre Area. Further details on Children’s Centres can be found here.

Connexions: Information about returning to education, starting training or finding a job

Connexions offers information, advice, guidance and support for 13-19 year olds (and 20-24 year olds with special needs) to enable them to access jobs, training, education, voluntary or personal and social development opportunities. A network of Personal Advisors provide a single source of confidential help and support with the full range of issues affecting young people, including teenage pregnancy and parenthood, and can signpost to specialist support.

Connexions Personal Advisors are aware of the pressures and issues that teenage parents (mothers and fathers) face and are trained to support. Often Connexions will make contact during pregnancy or soon after.. It’s fine if parents don’t want to return to school or college straight away, but it’s really worthwhile meeting with a Connexions Personal Advisor and talking through interests and options for the parent and the baby’s future. Connexions Personal Advisors can also help people access Care to Learn financial support (See Childcare Section).

Connexions Birkenhead
Conway Building, Conway Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6JD.

Tel: 0151 666 4385

Connexions Bebington
41-43 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BE.

Tel: 0151 472 4600

Connexions Wallasey
Liscard Municipal Buildings, 52 Seaview Rd, Wallasey, CH44 8ED

Tel: 0151 638 5625

Connexions West Kirby
56-60 Grange Rd, West Kirby, CH48 4EG

Tel: 0151 471 6020

Care to Learn

If a parent is under 20 and needs childcare for a baby/toddler to go back to learning then financial support is available. It is called Care to Learn and does not just fund childcare costs for courses ending in qualifications, it can provide financial support for practical courses, voluntary work, courses provided by the voluntary sector and many more.

For more information about Care to Learn or to apply online, visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn , telephone the Care to Learn Helpline: 0845 600 2809 or you can contact Connexions (see above) or the Children’s Information Service 0800 0858 743.

Childcare

Only the parent themselves knows when the best time is to return to education, training or find a job. Some teenage mums prefer to go back to college or school soon after they have had their baby, others prefer to wait a little longer. It is a big step leaving a baby with someone else, but if its not an option for grandma to look after her grandchild during the day, then young parents will need to think about what other childcare options are available.

Finding a childcare place for a child/children can seem daunting, especially if you are not clear of the options available or which one would suit you and your child best. There are lots of options available whether it be a Child minder, Private Day Nursery, Local Sure Start / Children Centre Nursery or on site crèche at your local college.

The Children's Information Service: 0800 0858 743 is an advice and information service in Wirral that can go through all your childcare options with you and provide information on which childcare providers currently have vacancies. Childcare Development Workers can support you in making the right decision, can give you ideas on what questions you need to ask childcare providers and can even go with you to different nurseries to see which you like best!

Housing

Forum Housing Association – Registered Social Landlord and provider of supported housing to young, single, homeless people aged 16-25 years, including pregnant teenagers and young parents.

13 Price St, Hamilton Quarter, Birkenhead

Tel: 0151 647 0677

Arena Options Limited

Our House is located in Wirral and offers supported accommodation for young women between the ages of 16 and 25. Six of the 10 individual flats provide homes for young mums or "mums to be", with the remaining four reserved for single young women. The residents come from a variety of backgrounds. Each one is helped by staff to draw up their own personal development plan to address their individual needs. In addition to the ongoing support offered by Our House staff, outside agencies, such as Sure Start, Social Services and health organisations, also work with the residents.

First Base is also located in Wirral and provides six semi independent bungalows for lone parents between the ages of 16 and 25 and their children. First Base is a short term option (up to 2 years) designed to support lone parents to develop the necessary skills to live independently successfully.

If you would like further information contact 0151 645 6787 or http://www.arena-housing.com/

Wirral Partnership Homes: Floating Tenancy Support Service (FTSS)

The FTSS of Wirral Partnership Homes provides a flexible short term (up to 2 years) support service to people living in their own home, with the aim of maintaining independence. The service is primarily intended for young people aged 16-25 years with housing related support needs.

FTSS can offer a range of support services to clients through its support planning process, which could include:

• Setting up home or finding other accommodation
• Developing domestic skills
• Managing finances and benefit claims
• Emotional support, counselling and advice
• Gaining access to other services
• Establishing social contacts, accessing activities and local community organisations
• Monitoring of health and wellbeing
• Peer support and befriending
• Maintaining the safety and security of their home
• Advice and support on arranging repairs
• Liaison and advocacy support for cultural needs

For more information Tel: 0151 606 3000 or http://www.wphomes.org.uk/