Our aim is to have an ambitious, implemented IMH strategy across Dorset’s Integrated Care System (ICS), with commitment from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), to encompass all sectors to support babies’ healthy development.
This proposal has been co-produced with representatives from parents, local council, health, and community leaders who want to champion IMH across all sectors and the public.
This ambitious Infant Mental Health Strategy aims to see an alignment of mandated public services and KPIs with a holistic view of the needs of and opportunities for pregnant parents, carers and families with infants under 2 at this unique, yet optimum, moment in time to make change for good.
Invest more in prevention
Sustainable funding of preventative services, including health visiting, with public health budgets ring-fenced for 1001 days that address the unique challenges unborn children, infants and their carers during this period.
Policy and decision makers and commissioners to recognise the full benefits of services that improve outcomes in both short and long term, by ensuring provision of services and training specifically in parent infant relationships and infant mental health, across all sectors of the Local Economy, Education, Health, Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Childrens Social Care (CSC), Employment, Policing, and Community.
Put Start for life at the heart of the Family Hub networks, to offer holistic services that help to reduce stressors to the care giving relationship and care giving environment.
Tackle health inequities so that babies have a good start
A targeted approach to reduce inequities in provision for unborn children and infants.
ICB to be held accountable for their statutory duty to reduce health inequalities and invest in services that support babies social and emotional development. – How is the first 1001 days represented in Dorset’s ICS?
Services to be co-produced with families to reach the most vulnerable babies in marginalised and isolated families.
Develop a workforce plan that includes Local authority, Children’s Social Care, Health, CAMHS, Maternity, Neonatal, Health Visiting, Family Hubs and the Early Years Workforce
Adequately trained and appropriately supported staff to provide relationship based, attachment led care in all settings.
Provide IMH competency framework training across for the whole workforce who are in direct contact with families in Infant Mental Health, Parent Infant relationships, and the critical importance of the first 1001 days.
IMH training for nursery staff and all those working in settings caring for under 2’s.
Male carers, Dads and Non-Birthing Partners to be included in pathways
Standardised offer of a finance and skills review for all parents to be, to ensure parenting preparedness.
Information about maternity and paternity leave rights and benefits to be shared, early and often.
Access to wellbeing management resources, and courses like ‘How to Argue Better’ offered as standard.
