COMMENDEE 2025-26: Leanne receives a Commendation for the resilience, compassion, and dedication she shows, as a Pregnancy, Mother and Baby Liaison Officer at HMP/YOI Bronzefield, in supporting the women in her care, and helping ensure the best possible outcomes for their babies.

This nomination was drawn up by Marianne Fagents – Senior Communications Manager, HMP/YOI Bronzefield; and signed off by Charlotte Wilson – Director, HMP/YOI Bronzefield. It followed an initial recommendation from Complex Lead Midwife, Sian De Cruz.

Introduction

This nomination recognises Leanne for her outstanding work as the Pregnancy, Mother & Baby Liaison Officer (PMBLO) at HMP Bronzefield — the largest female prison in Europe. In post for over five years, Leanne provides unparalleled support to pregnant women and mothers in custody. Her expert guidance, compassion, and tireless dedication help ensure mothers and their babies can remain together wherever possible, preserving vital early bonds. Through multi-agency collaboration and trauma-informed care, Leanne transforms the experience of perinatal women in prison, advocating for their needs while placing the wellbeing of the child at the heart of every decision.

Reasons for the nomination

Leanne is one of only a handful of Pregnancy, Mother & Baby Liaison Officers in the country, and her contribution at HMP Bronzefield is nothing short of exceptional. In one of the UK’s busiest female remand prisons, which includes a 12-bed Mother and Baby Unit, Leanne offers comfort, structure, and hope to women navigating pregnancy or motherhood in custody — often at one of the most vulnerable points in their lives.

With over five years of experience in this specialist role, Leanne is a subject matter expert in perinatal care within the prison environment. Her compassionate and determined approach helps women and babies remain together when it is safe and appropriate to do so — facilitating critical early bonding and attachment during the vital first 1001 days of a child’s development.
Leanne plays a pivotal role in preventing intergenerational trauma and offending by advocating for continuity of care, emotional safety, and nurturing maternal relationships. Her detailed and dynamic risk assessments, combined with strong multi-agency collaboration with social services, probation, and policy leads, ensure that every case is thoroughly considered, and the child’s needs are always at the centre.

From the moment a woman enters the prison, Leanne is there — often greeting them at reception, offering guidance and reassurance. She supports birth planning, attends scans, arranges breast pumps, captures pregnancy milestones, and celebrates births. She also delivers difficult news with sensitivity, advocates for pregnant women’s rights, and chairs complex admission boards for the Mother and Baby Unit — 100 in the last three years alone.

Perhaps most movingly, Leanne ensures no woman ever gives birth alone. She prepares birth partners and has even stepped into the role herself when a woman had no support, offering calm and comfort at a moment that could otherwise have been traumatic. This quiet act of kindness exemplifies the heart she brings to the role.

In just the last three years, Leanne has directly supported 145 pregnant women and 36 births. She has done this almost single-handedly — with emotional resilience, professionalism, and a commitment that goes far beyond her formal duties. Her work is vital, emotionally demanding, and too often unseen.

Leanne’s contribution not only transforms the lives of women and their babies but actively shapes safer, more compassionate outcomes within the criminal justice system. She is a lifeline, a fierce advocate, and an unwavering source of support — and she deserves to be recognised nationally for the impact she has made, and continues to make, every single day.

Support for the nomination

“I would like to support this nomination for Leanne Barnes for her outstanding dedication and service as a Pregnancy, Mother and Baby Unit Liaison Officer within the women’s prison estate. Leanne brings extensive knowledge and expertise to her role, consistently demonstrating compassion, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the complex needs of pregnant women and mothers in custody. She works collaboratively and effectively with multidisciplinary teams, always going above and beyond to ensure each woman receives the care, safety, and dignity they deserve. Leanne’s commitment to advocating for vulnerable women and improving outcomes for mothers and their babies is truly amazing.”
Sian De Cruz, Complex Lead Midwife

“I would like to support this nomination for Leanne Barnes. Leanne provides a vital role within the prison and demonstrates empathy, professionalism and resilience. She provides consistent and ongoing support to pregnant women in our care assists them in navigating the prison system and ensuring they have access to essential services such as midwifery, and healthcare. Leanne also acts to ensure the best possible outcomes for both mother and child and goes above and beyond in her duties on numerous occasions. Leanne has ensured there is tailored support for pregnant women in our care, working to embed monthly pregnancy focus groups and acting as an initial and ongoing point of contact for pregnant prisoners. I absolutely believe Leanne is not only an asset to the prison but that her compassion, dedication and standard of work has impacted and changed lives for the better. She is an inspiring example of care and decency and I absolutely support any nomination that recognises this.”
Emma Charalambous, Head of Reducing Reoffending

Sign off

Leanne is a real credit to Bronzefield and she works exceptionally hard to support the pregnant women and mothers in our care. She has defined the PMBLO role locally and consistently demonstrates what it means to do this role well, often going above and beyond in her support to others. Leanne has set the standard for PMBLO support, regularly gaining positive feedback from the women as well as external stakeholders, such as the original nominator here. I have no hesitation in recommending Leanne for this recognition.

Charlotte Wilson, Director, HMPYOI Bronzefield