3 Point Plan for Dorset

Point 1

Leverage digital and data earlier, from pregnancy with the school entry health type questionnaire being introduced at pregnancy. A time when we know that parents are most receptive to receiving information and knowledge about parenting.

  • Lack of preparedness for parenting leading to anxiety, depression, isolation, loneliness, poor health, relationship conflict, financial strain for parents. Development of insecure attachment in infants leading to poorer outcomes in their health, wellbeing, happiness and future relationship

  • Transform the future for children, families and communities as well as service providers, by offering a wide range of online, community and statutory service early, when we know parents are most receptive to developing their knowledge and skills.

  • Assess needs via digital form, linked to health visiting system so there is continuity across the child’s life. Similar to the preschool health assessment, because waiting until the child is 3/4 is too late.

Point 2

Provide specialist “parent buddies” for parents during the first 1001 days who might need additional help to connect with, access and take up services on offer.

  • Parents/carers not taking up services offered in a timely way resulting in escalation of problems, leading potentially to children being separated from their parents.

  • Fewer infants removed from their parents. Less children in care.

  • Targeted Parents are allocated a Buddy for the first 1001 days. Community based specialist Infant mental health, parent infant relationship workers to walk alongside parents during the first 1001 days. As per Wales project and prison work.

Point 3

Workforce development to realise the potential of the workforce.

  • Lack of understanding and appreciation of what Infant Mental health encompasses, meaning that babies are often overlooked when working with families and systems.

  • Ensure the workforce is suitably skilled to identify need and deliver care to parent/s/caregiver who are pregnant or have a baby, and to both promote the mental health of the baby and provide access to appropriate evidence-based treatment where there are problems, as outlined in the Healthy Child Programme (DH, 2009; 2014).

  • All staff to attend Infant mental health competency training such as DorPIP one day CPD accredited AIMH IMHC framework training