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Childcare while someone is in prison

What happens to a prisoner’s child depends on the child’s age and what prison the mother is in.

Babies born while their mother is in prison

If someone’s expecting a baby, they usually have to stay in ‘normal’ prison accommodation for as long as possible before the birth.

Arrangements are made for the prisoner to give birth in a maternity hospital nearest to the prison.

Some prisons have a ‘mother and baby unit’. This is a separate part of the prison which lets the mother keep their baby with them for the first 18 months.

Prisoners with children under 18 months

A prisoner that already has a child under 18 months old when they enter prison can apply to bring their child with them into prison.

Prisoners with children over 18 months

If a prisoner has children over 18 months when they enter prison, arrangements are made by Social Services for them to be cared for. This could include:

• the prisoner’s parent(s)
• foster parents

The prisoner may be able to visit the place where their children are living. If this is not possible, the children may be able to visit their mother in prison.

This decision is made by the prison and the people caring for the children.

Prison staff can tell the prisoner more about visiting arrangements.

• Visiting someone in prison

Applying for a place in a mother and baby unit

A prisoner can apply for a space in a mother and baby unit when they enter prison. A group of people (the ‘admissions board’) looks at the prisoner’s case. They decide whether staying in prison with their mother is the best thing for the child.

The admissions board can include a:

• prison officer
• probation officer
• prison medical officer
• social worker

The decision is made at a meeting. Any specialists that helped with the care of the prisoner’s child before they went to prison may also be asked for their opinion.

This person could be a:

• health visitor
• paediatrician - a doctor who works with children

The prisoner also has the chance to speak at the meeting.

What happens if there are no spaces available

If there are no places in the prison the mother first goes to, they may be offered a place in another unit.

If there are no spaces in any unit, arrangements must be made for the child to be cared for outside of prison. Social Services may be able to help if this happens.

What happens if the prisoner is refused a space

If the prisoner is refused a place in the first mother and baby unit they cannot apply for a place at another. The prisoner can appeal against the decision – the prison explains how this can be done.

When a baby may leave the mother and baby unit

If prison staff think the child’s well-being is at risk, the child may have to leave the unit. This could happen if:

• the mother is ill and can’t look after their child
• the child is ill and needs to go to hospital outside of prison
• Social Services think the child is at risk from harm

Childcare arrangements outside prison

A child may have to leave their mother if:

• there were no spaces in a mother and baby unit
• the admissions board think the child will be better cared-for outside prison
• the child is older than 18 months

If the prisoner has a long prison sentence

For prisoners that have long sentences - for example, more than 18 months - arrangements are normally made for the child to be cared for outside prison.

These arrangements (‘separation plans’) are made when, or soon after the mother enters prison.

Prisons with mother and baby units

The following prisons have mother and baby units:

• HMP Holloway
• HMP Bronzefield
• HMP Eastwood Park
• HMP Styal
• HMP New Hall
• HMP Peterborough
• HMP Askham Grange

HMP Holloway takes children up to the age of nine months.

More useful links

• Adoption, fostering and children in care (parents section)