Gateway Family Services

Pregnancy Outreach Worker Jacqueline James and new mum

Our Pregnancy Outreach Workers (POWs) work alongside other health and social care services to support pregnant women and to reduce factors that can cause infant mortality.

POWs primarily support pregnant women with a low medical risk and high social risk. They have real life experience of issues that can affect the women they help, because they understand their local communities.

Pregnancy Outreach Workers deal with issues including teenage pregnancy, overcrowding, poor housing, isolation,  substance abuse, obesity, smoking, breastfeeding initiation and domestic abuse.

They cover areas of Birmingham where infants are more at risk, where communities are the hardest to reach because of social, cultural or economic barriers.  Their support works – see the case of Alison.

We are currently supporting women who live in the following wards in Birmingham:

• Aston
• Nechells
• Lozells
• East Handsworth
• Soho
• Moseley and Kings Heath
• Bordesley Green
• Washwood Heath
• Springfield
• Sparkbroook

To find out which Birmingham City Council ward you live in please go yo openlylocal and use the postcode search box in the top right hand corner of the site.

In these wards we’re only working with people who are pregnant and under 20.

• Longbridge
• Quinton
• Harborne
• Ladywood
• Kingstanding
• Oscott
• Tyburn
• Shard End

For a pdf referral form please click here (you’ll need to fill in the form ). You can call us and we will help you fill it in over the phone or fax it.  We ask you not to send the form by post as we cannot guarantee confidentiality this way.  Alternatively  if you want to refer yourself or someone else to the service please e-mail Robert.Teagle@gatewayfs.org.