Lay summary
Counties Manukau Health has over 6000 deliveries each year. Maternity services, as well as providing clinical care, may identify social and care & protection issues such as family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, maternal incarceration, abuse of older siblings, and/or children removed into the care of Child Youth & Family Services (CYFS). The purpose of this research project is to construct a report describing vulnerable at risk babies referred in the antenatal period at Counties Manukau Health. This will involve carrying out a clinical audit of medical records for babies referred during the two year period of 2014 - 2015; analyzing their demographic, care & protection issues, birth plan management, and social service and statutory agency intervention for the cohort. The results of this research will enable Counties Manukau to better understand the vulnerability and complexity of this high risk group, enabling better service planning and delivery.