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Early Intervention

SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED. Early Intervention. Infant Mental Health in North Lincolnshire Verity Gardiner, Early Years Officer, IMH lead Verity.gardiner@northlincs.gov.uk. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED. What is infant mental health?.

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Early Intervention

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  1. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Early Intervention Infant Mental Health in North Lincolnshire Verity Gardiner, Early Years Officer, IMH lead Verity.gardiner@northlincs.gov.uk

  2. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED What is infant mental health? • The importance of infant mental health isn’t always recognised in the same way as it is for older children and adults. • Babies develop positive mental health through receiving consistently responsive and loving care which teaches them that the world is a safe place. • This helps them to better manage their emotions and form positive relationships as they grow and develop. • When babies learn how to do this early on they grow into toddlers and children who are better prepared for exploration and learning.

  3. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Infant mental health manifesto Key messages agreed and promoted via: • North Lincolnshire Council including the early years team, children’s centres, family support team (FaSST) and statutory social work team • NHS NLAG – Midwifery team, NICU • NHS RdASH – Health visiting team • NHS Clinical Commissioning Group

  4. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Why is infant mental health important? Advances in science are showing us that the kind of environment babies experience and in particular, the parenting they receive physically shapes their developing brain. This process begins even before the baby is born.

  5. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Why is infant mental health important? The development of a loving, trusting and secure attachment relationship between parent and baby is crucial for later outcomes including readiness for school. This depends on a child knowing that their parent / carer will keep them safe and helping them to manage strong feelings.

  6. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Responsive feeding and the importance of close and loving relationships

  7. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED ‘Building a happy baby’

  8. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED ‘Coping with crying’ NCPCC

  9. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Infant mental health support: • Perinatal MW and HV • Universal support and key messages • Intensive family support service including Neonatal Behaviour Observation and baby massage – HV team • Solihull approach antenatal and postnatal baby groups – ‘the journey to parenthood’ and ‘understanding your baby’ – referrals from health, social services etc. • Primary caregiving in childcare provision • Support for foster carers and adoptive parents

  10. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Key messages: • A baby’s brain is a bit like dough…parents and environment physically shape their developing brain. • A baby’s cries are designed to tell an adult they need something and get help, just like an alarm • When babies cry they need an adult to give them loving care and attention. • Babies can easily become over-whelmed by their feelings if they are not helped to calm down…a bit like a bucket getting full and overflowing.

  11. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Key messages: • Parents / carers provide emotional support for babies like an anchor in a stormy sea • This helps babies to trust their parents, become calmer and to manage their strong emotions now and in the future • It frees up space in their bucket for more talking, exploring and playing • The back and forth communication between parent and baby is a bit like a game of table tennis where the baby and parent hit the ball back to each other. By responding to your baby you are building their brain and building their future!

  12. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED National IMH awareness week

  13. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Solihull postnatal baby group • 8 parentsand 4 babies I have learnt that they need a breather…they will tell you when they have had enough’ ‘I got to know my baby’ ‘My mind-set has changed. I know she is a person and an individual. I try to work out what she wants’. ‘It was amazing. It helped me build confidence and make friends. It’s been a big learning curve for me’ ‘I respond differently to her now…I say daddy is here, you are safe’ ‘To get a response out of him we have to respond to what he shows us first…like back and forth

  14. SAFE | WELL | PROSPEROUS | CONNECTED Further information: All parents can access support regarding caring for their babies from their midwife, health visitor or children’s centre For more information re the infant mental health project: Verity.gardiner@northlincs.gov.uk

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