I have a special interest in supporting those women and partners who have had previous children removed through psycho-social difficulties including adult mental health, domestic violence and drug/alcohol use. I have extensive experience in supporting women and their partners involved with Children’s Services through my work in the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service I ran in the Community Mental Health Team.
Furthermore, I have over 27 years post-qualifying experience working in Children’s Services, CAMHS and Adult Mental Health Services and I have bridged the gap between these services to ensure the safeguarding of children and families. To this end, I have prepared specialist reports for Family Courts on women with Perinatal Stress.
Altogether, I employ my knowledge, experience, training and skills I learnt from my post-qualifying courses in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health at the University of Warwick and Non-Directive Play Therapy (specializing in attachment theory and child development) at the University of York.
Aims
- To provide an alternative therapeutic intervention to enable women and their partners who are at risk of having their children removed at birth or repeat episodes of care proceedings, to care for their infants whilst assessments are being completed.
- To support mothers to remain with their infants whilst reducing any potential risk.
- To promote perinatal and infant wellbeing and nurturing attachments during the critical period of development.
- To provide specialist perinatal assessments based on my post-qualifying training in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health at the University of Warwick.
- To work systemically with other agencies to safeguard infants.
Supporting Evidence
- 24% of women are subject to repeat episodes of care proceedings
- Young women aged 16 to 19 years are most at risk of recurrence
- 28.7% of women lost 1st infant to adoption in 1st episode of care proceedings
- 43.9% of women lost 2nd infant to adoption in 1st repeat episode
- 50% of women lost 3rd infant to adoption in 2nd repeat episode (Professor Broadhurst et al 2014)
- Between 2002 and 2014 showed an increase of 37% of looked after children (Mark Drakeford, Health & Social Services Minister)
Outcomes
- To reduce the number of infants being placed in care
- To provide an alternative support package to women and their infants
- To offer mothers who are subject to repeat episodes of care proceedings the chance to adapt
- To support mothers with Perinatal Stress and/or psychosocial difficulties towards Perinatal Emotional Wellbeing and Nurturing Attachments
