Parent and Infant Emotional Wellbeing (PIEW)

Aim of the Training

Do you work with pregnant parents and families with children under 3?

If yes, all professionals, practitioners and volunteers working in the Walsall borough are encouraged to attend one of these 4 hour sessions on supporting parents’ and infants’ emotional wellbeing and the parent- child relationship.

We know that the during the first 2 years of a baby’s life there is rapid development and experiences of those early years that lay the foundations for a child’s lifelong emotional and physical health need.

The parent-infant relationship plays a crucial part for the child’s long-term outcomes (adult mental wellbeing, emotional health, speech and language development etc), as well as their present well-being. This links in closely with safeguarding work for all babies and children.

This training is relevant for all professionals: health, community, family hub staff, family support workers, social workers, early years staff, volunteers, administrators etc

This training was developed by Dudley Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) with support from FNP National Unit and Parent-Infant Foundation. The training looks at techniques to support development of secure attachment patterns, and trauma-informed practice, using a variety of tools to bring this training to life.

This training has also been developed to assist practitioners to achieve Infant Mental Health Competency Framework (Level 1).

We will also  explore Walsall’s available pathways and Start for Life offer of support to families.

Please note this training can evoke emotions of attendees, by the topic, and materials used and support for staff’s wellbeing can be provided outside of the course. Please speak with one of the trainers if support is required.

Furthermore, we advise checking within your own organisation / service area for release of time to attend this course.

Learning Outcomes

• Explore the relationship between parent/care-giver and baby and its effect on the emotional well-being of an infant
• Consider how baby’s behaviour is communication and that babies are born to communicate, using baby cues
• Consider how parents are pivotal to a child’s emotional wellbeing with life long and generational impacts.
• Discuss how to support sensitive responsive care-giving
• Understand effect of trauma in parents’ past and how to work in a trauma-informed way
• Discuss how professionals support development of SECURE ATTACHMENT styles and offer timely support where this is needed
• Learn about Walsall’s pathways and Start for Life offer to support the parent and infant emotional well-being
• Practical interventions to complete with parents to enhance the parent infant relationship
• Understand what is ‘Perinatal Mental Health’ and how to support parents within this period