Good Pre-Conception Care Training and Community of Practice

These training sessions, organised by Bevan Healthcare, are for those working with socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access. This may include people experiencing homelessness, sex working women, refugee and asylum seekers.

This training is relevant for anyone who works with people of childbearing age, either pre-children or between pregnancies (including those not planning to become pregnant).

Each training session below will run for 90 minutes.

The training will initially have an expert guest speaker to introduce the topic, followed by a community of practice to share the best practice and learning related to that topic.

Use this link to access the Good Pre-conception Care Online Course. 

For instructions on how to enrol onto the online courses below, please click here.

When: Monday 6th October 2025 - 2pm to 3.30pm

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’

The session will consider the importance of relationships in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access.

This session will cover:

• The importance of relationships and a person-centred approach.
• Ethics of care as a perspective that allows us to examine our principles and morals when we are making decisions about how we build relationships
• Person centred approaches and a trauma informed approach
• Social and economic inequalities and marginalised groups.

Online materials: The importance of relationships online course

When: Monday 20th October 2025 – 10.30am to 12.00pm

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’

In the UK, for every 100,000 maternities, approximately 11 women die due to complications. In addition, there are apparent and persistent inequalities in outcomes for women depending on their ethnicity. Maternal mortality for Black women is currently almost four times higher than for White women. Significant disparities also exist for women of Asian and mixed ethnicity.

Report: Black Women’s Maternal Health

When: Tuesday 18th November 2025 - 10am to 11.30am

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’

The session will consider contraception and sexual health in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access

This session will cover:

• The role of contraception and different options available.
• The risks and benefits to different contraceptive methods and the resources to help people decide which method might be good for them and where they can access further support.
• The myths and concerns that people have about contraception.
• Cultural concerns are important to appreciate when counselling so these must be heard and not dismissed.
• Condoms are important to reduce infections and how to encourage use.

Online materials: Contraception and sexual health online course

When: Wednesday 28th January 2026 - 5.30pm to 7pm

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’ 

This session will consider the importance of physical health at pre-conception stage in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access.

This session will cover:

• implications of smoking in the pre-conception period
• Substance and alcohol misuse
• Healthy Weight
• Sexually Transmitted Infection and Blood Borne Virus
• Cervical screening
• Nutrition
• Physical exercise

Online materials: The importance of physical health at pre-conception stage online course

When: Thursday 5th March 2026 - 3pm to 4.30pm

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’ 

The session will consider the importance of mental health at pre-conception stage in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access.

This session will cover:

• The importance of good mental health before getting pregnant as poor mental health may have an adverse influence on the pregnancy and also on the early years emotional attachment.
• Women who have a past history of mental health problems, and for those with previous mental health problems in pregnancy or are currently taking mental health medicines that they need to talk to a GP or
  pharmacist about this before getting pregnant.

Online Materials: The importance of mental health at pre-conception stage online course

When: Friday 15th May 2026 - 10am to 11.30am

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’ 

The session will consider the importance of getting pre-conception support in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access.

This session will cover:

• Important information resources to help people understand why lifestyle and social factors need
  optimising before conception.
• Risks before getting pregnant so that early referral and tests can happen.
• Medical conditions and making sure the medication people take is correct before getting pregnant so that risks are reduced.
• Folic Acid.
• Vaccinations.

Online materials: Introduction to the importance of getting pre-conception support

When: Monday 15th June 2026 - 2pm to 3.30pm 

Where: Facilitated online ‘Teams’

The session will consider the importance of healthy relationships and good pre-conception care in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access.

This session will cover:

• The importance of providing information and support to men and other family members and to listen to
  their concerns and expectations about a pregnancy.
• The stress of a pregnancy and children can increase the risk of domestic violence and conflict.

Online materials: Healthy Relationships and good pre-conception care online course

When: Tuesday 14th July 2026 – 5.30pm to 7pm

Where: Facilitated online 'Teams' 

The session will consider the importance of inter-pregnancy planning in relation to inclusion health groups, socially excluded populations facing multiple, interacting health risks and barriers to healthcare access.

This session will cover:

• Interpregnancy timing is important and that sexual activity might restart before contraception is used.
• Some women who have experienced problems during or following previous pregnancies may need support or medical care to prevent the problem /control the problem in future pregnancies.
• Myths about the need for and the use of contraception in the postpartum and breast feeding times and can sign post to resources to help.

Online materials: Inter-pregnancy planning online course