C0255 Pause Programme

Birmingham City Council invites organisations to tender to deliver a pilot Pause Programme. The Pause programme is a national programme that has been delivered in seven other Local Authorities since 2013. Pause works with women who have experienced - or at risk of - repeat pregnancies that result in children needing to be removed from their care. The programme gives women the chance to pause and take control over their lives, breaking a destructive cycle that causes both them and their children deep trauma.

The aim of the service is to enable women to manage their lives in a way which reduces children entering care, either through no further pregnancies or women having their future babies remain in their care through their stabilised and improved health and well-being. Pause will work directly with the women, addressing the presenting issues and ensuring they have access to the relevant services through a co-ordinated approach. During the course of the intervention the women are required to take the Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), thereby creating a space to pause, reflect, learn and aspire.

The service will work with a minimum of 20 vulnerable women for up to an 18 month period. The service will primarily work with women in the South of the city - but will also receive referrals from other parts of the city where there is a need.