All About..

Children and Parents’ Service

Who are Children and Parents’ Service (CAPS)

We are part of the CAMHS under 5s/early years offer in Manchester.

CAPS is a partnership between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), Manchester city council and the voluntary sector, which includes Family Action, Big Life, and Home Start Manchester.  We offer psychological support to both parents in pregnancy and parents of children under 5 years.

The aim of CAPS is to support parents and carers to help their children to develop to their fullest potential and be ready for school. This includes promoting improved quality of parent/child relationships; and supporting parents and carers with their children’s social, emotional development and wellbeing.

 

Where we work

CAPS aims to be flexible and try to offer families support where they live. We run groups and clinics in Children’s Centres and Family hubs across Manchester; as well as in Manchester CAMHS buildings, if this is more convenient. Home visits are also possible, depending on your situation, and the type of support offered.

 

Our People

We are a team of Clinical Psychologists, Specialist Parent Infant Mental-Health Health Visitors and Midwives, Mental health practitioners, Children’s nurses, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists, Assistant Psychologists and Administrators. We are all here to best support you and your child.

Download the CAPS Leaflet

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Access to Children and Parents’ Service (CAPS)

Referrals can be made by a range of professionals, such as GPs, health visitors, speech and language therapists, social workers, early years outreach workers and by families themselves.

We ask that a referral form is completed for all referrals to our service, except for Incredible Years group referrals.

Referrals can be made using the referral form below:

Once we receive a referral, we aim to offer a telephone triage within 4 weeks of us receiving the referral.

Referrals to Incredible Years Parent programmes are made by telephone by Early Years Professionals to the Parent Group Leader in your area. Examples are your child’s Health Visitor, GP, Paediatrician, Social Worker or Outreach Worker; or contact us directly on 0161 504 3000. The Group Leader will then contact you to arrange a time to meet for an appointment.

Children and Parents’ Service (CAPS) Referral Form

Waiting Times

This can vary, depending on what support you need. However, we aim to offer all families a prompt triage phone call to understand your concerns and to think with you about the most helpful support available to your family.

While you wait

While waiting for CAMHS you can use self-care strategies and access online support. Please contact your GP or your CAMHS team if your condition worsens whilst waiting for CAMHS support.

Video Testimonials

 

 

Stories

Would you like to know what other young people and their parents or carers think of their experiences of the team? Take a look at this feedback written by young people and parents or carers.

Frequently Asked Questions

CAPS can help when a parent/carer may be worried about: -

  • Bonding with their unborn baby, infant or child following a difficult labour, postnatal depression or anxiety; or because they have had difficult childhood experiences themselves
  • Understanding what their baby is trying to tell them; how best to soothe their baby and how to help them feel secure
  • Managing their child’s behaviour and support parents to manage their child's feelings and/or developmental differences
  • Their child’s feeding, sleeping or toileting (once a parent has had a universal intervention around this)
  • Their child seeming very anxious or worried

Our offer involves a Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS), which includes both group and individual work; a 2–5-year-old group offer which includes:

  • Incredible Years preschool BASIC and Riding the Rapids groups, for parents of children with social communication difficulties
  • Preschool clinic offer where individual work is offered.

We work with parents and carers to explore what support feels right for you and your child. Together, we’ll talk through your concerns and your child’s age and stage of development, and from there decide which type of support would be the best fit.