Infant Mental Health – understanding of attachment in practice

1. Infant Mental Health – understanding of attachment in practice Julie Watson – Scottish Institute of Human Relations J.Watson@sihr.org.uk www.sihr.org.uk

2. Aims of SIHR Infant Mental Health Programmes: • Incorporating infant mental health – a framework for thinking about effective ways of working with parent-child relationships • Infancy is a crucial time for developing security, attachments and trust • Influences in very early life for future children’s mental health and wellbeing

3. Infant mental health – in practice • Evidence shows that the first year is a critical period in terms of cognitive development emotional adjustment; the quality of attachments heavily determines subsequent achievement

4. Infant mental health – the way forward • “Training” of all staff likely to meet new families and play a role in the care of them and their babies, young children - will reinforce a coherent approach across Health, Education, Social work and Early years practitioners • In partnership, supporting infrastructure development and use which enables flexible working practices

5. Infant mental health in early interventioncontext - • About building parenting and family capacity before and after birth (biggest gains in improved outcomes and reduced inequality will come from supporting parents) • Developing a sustainable, confident and competent children’s sector workforce

6. Infant mental health – in practice Understanding of healthy optimum child development Intensive therapeutic work to impact upon & secure better outcomes

7. Assessing situations and applying practical solutions Role of SIHR Infant Mental Health programmes

8. INFANT MENTAL HEALTH – our ethos • THE EARLY PARENT-INFANT RELATIONSHIP IS CRITICAL TO OPTIMUM CHILD DEVELOPMENT BOTH WITHIN THE FAMILY AND IN SOCIETY

9. WHY INFANT MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS • RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASE • POLICY & STRATEGIC LEAD • ECONOMIC CASE

10. IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE AROUND INFANT MENTAL HEALTH • Background to the SIHR & Scottish Gov. IMH project development • Child welfare and protection agenda

11. SIHR - INFANT MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT (2006-2009) • PHASE 1 - Scoping & Research • PHASE 2 – training & support • PHASE 3 – delivery & evaluation • Sustainability –roll out of programmes from 2010

12. SIHR IMH project – programmes now on offer • Effective delivery across Scotland & NI (CPD) • 4 day -“Observing Infants” & assessment skills • 3 Day Impact of Adult Mental Illness on Parenting Capacity • 3 day - “the act of supervising practitioners using observation in childcare assessments • 1 day- workshop: sharing of “what works” & working effectively with parent-child relationships

13. Evaluation • Each pilot - individual evaluation • Participants feedback; impact on self/organisation • Follow up: how taken into/change/influence practice • Sustainability – range of programmes on offer • Commissioned in house training

14. SIHR(Scottish Institute Human Relations) INFANT MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT J.Watson@sihr.org.uk For IMH learning & development programmes www.sihr.org.uk SIHR, 172 Leith Walk Tel. 0131 454 3240 Fax 0131 454 3241