Angelica is 42 and has a newborn baby. Angelica also has a physical disability that makes it very difficult and unsafe for her to bathe her baby. Angelica rings her local council for help but they say they don’t provide such a service.
Angelica does not want anyone to know she is having trouble because she is worried that someone will decide her baby will need to be taken from her and cared for by someone else. Angelica has been supported in the past by a disability services agency but after she married she decided she did not require this support any more.
Her husband is now working away from home for three weeks out of each month. Angelica particularly does not want her husband to know she is having difficulties as she says he finds FIFO work very stressful and she does not want to add to this. Angelica’s mother has offered to help, but
Angelica says her mother was very much against her marriage and did not want her to have a child, so she is reluctant to accept help from her mother.
Angelica has contacted her local community centre for help and advice. A support worker is visiting Angelica at home. Angelica’s mother has contacted the worker to express her concerns for the safety of the newborn child.
Describe Angelica’s rights and responsibilities. (Approx. 40 words).
