Infant Mental Health – understanding of attachment in practice Julie Watson – Scottish Institute of Human Relations

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

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

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

Infant mental health in early intervention context -  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

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

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

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

WHY INFANT MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS  RESEARCH & EVIDENCE BASE  POLICY & STRATEGIC LEAD  ECONOMIC CASE

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

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

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

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

SIHR (Scottish Institute Human Relations) INFANT MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT For IMH learning & development programmes SIHR, 172 Leith Walk Tel Fax