Trafford Infant Parent Service - Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

Trafford Infant Parent Service (TIPS) is a small but growing team made up of clinical psychologists, a child and adolescent psychotherapist and a specialist health visitor. We are passionate and committed to offering therapeutic support to children under the age of 5 and their families. We are a sub section of CAMHS and offer support to infants and families around an infant’s social and emotional wellbeing.

Research has shown us that a baby’s earliest experiences can lay the foundations for positive experiences in later life, shape brain development and create a framework for how someone relates to themselves and others throughout their life. At TIPS, we recognise that many different things can make the transition to parenthood challenging and we are here to help.

We work together with families to build positive relationships and experiences, by offering support to develop ways of managing the emotional stressors that can be present for infants and carers. Our aim is to support the social and emotional wellbeing of children by encouraging sensitive and responsive caregiving relationships. Our work focuses on both the infant and the carer, helping parents to get to know their babies and find their way together.

Pregnancy to two

Pregnancy and the first two years of a baby’s life can be a time of excitement, but can also bring many challenges.

We can help you to make sense of these experiences by supporting you to get to know your baby and develop your confidence in managing the challenges of becoming a parent.

We offer a range of different support including observations, direct therapeutic input for families (e.g., psychoanalytically informed interventions, watch me play, video interaction guidance (VIG)) and consultation to other professionals already working with families.

Two to five

The first 1001 days (from conception to birth) is a time of unique opportunity, vulnerability and growth and in line with this guidance, our offer focuses on 0-2 year olds, with a more limited offer available for infants aged 2-5. If you would like to read more about the 1001 days, follow this link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/news/critical-days-manifesto.pd

As well as working directly with families, we also work closely with other professionals involved in your care (e.g., health visitors, social workers, mental health workers) who we liaise and offer consultation regularly to. In conjunction with health visiting, we offer a PIMH drop in session where parents can attend and have a coffee and a chat with other parents who may have accessed our service.

What working with us might look like and how to access support

How we will support you

We know it can be daunting meeting new people and not knowing what our input might look like. Although our offer of support can look very different for different families, we have outlined an example of how we might support a family to help you to understand how we might work.

Our first visit often takes place in person, with parent(s) and infant(s) present. This could be in a local children’s centre where we start to get to know you and your infant, identify what you are struggling with and think about what you might like to achieve from working together. This is often a good opportunity to see you and your infant together and to offer you any observations we might make.

As our sessions continue, we may help you to interact with your infant through play and support you to develop your knowledge around what you might expect an infant of their age to be doing. We will often be curious about what you think is going on for your baby, what they are thinking and how they are feeling. We may give you activities to help you to develop your understanding of and relationship with your infant in between sessions. Using these skills can often help you to see the world from the perspective of your infant and understand them better, which can lead parents to feel more confident in their parenting abilities.

The transition to parenthood can be a time where parents often reflect on their own experiences in childhood and consider what kind of parent they would like to be. We will often explore with parents what they bring into parenting and give space to anything that may be getting in the way of their relationship with their infant. We also work closely with your health visitor and other professionals that are involved in your care and may offer to do joint sessions with them if we feel that could be helpful for you and your family.

What families say about our service

‘The support I have been fortunate to receive with TIPS, has been truly life changing. Throughout my life I’ve had anxiety amongst other things… but I have not properly understood or appreciated what I was going through until becoming a parent. Thanks to TIPS, I now know that these problems are because of past experiences and my treatment as a child… and I am thankfully now kind to myself because of that. The benefits of having had support from TIPS are endless… I have had time to process my past, I have slowed down, I am kinder to myself and I know I am doing my best as a mother and a wife. Thank you so much to TIPS – I now have an incredibly fulfilling and happy life with my family.’

– Mum previously supported by TIPS

Where do we offer support?

Sessions are offered either in person or virtually. We often work with families using a blended approach, with a mixture of these formats. When we meet in person, we sometimes see families at home, at our clinic base (Oriel Court) or at one of the two local children’s centres in Trafford (Partington and Stretford).

Our clinic space, Oriel Court, is easily accessible by public transport. It is close to Sale Metrolink station and several bus routes. Limited parking is available at oriel court which can be accessed at the back of the building from Claremont Road (M33 7LN). The car park is also used by other businesses so please park in the designated CAMHS bays.

The address of our clinic base is: Oriel Court, Tatton Road, Sale, Trafford Greater Manchester M33 7DF

Referrals

Referrals can be made by parents/carers or professionals directly to our team email address using our referral form. We receive most of our referrals from Health Visitors and GPs so if you are concerned, please speak to a healthcare professional for support.

Alternatively, referrals can be made directly to our service using the self-referral form (downloadable from the bottom side of this web page). Once completed, please send this to mft.traffordinfantparentservice@nhs.net.

Once we receive a referral, we will discuss it as a team and if accepted, you will be placed on a short waiting list. We will get in touch with you to arrange a time to speak about you and your baby and begin to get to know you. We often speak to other people involved in your care e.g., your health visitor, to help us to learn more about you. Together, we will speak about any concerns you have, consider your hopes for moving forward and work out what the most appropriate support for your family will be.

How to get in touch with us

If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please contact us on 0161 549 6456 and ask to speak to member of the TIPS team.

For professionals

We also offer telephone and video consultations to other professionals who work with infants such as the perinatal team, health visiting, social workers and many more. Our consultations are used in different ways, for example as a space to reflect on your observations of families, to seek guidance on how to support the parent-infant relationship or to think with a member of the TIPS team about the appropriateness of a referral to our service.

If you wish to book in for a consultation or speak to a member of the team, please email mft.traffordinfantparentservice@nhs.net or call Trafford CAMHS on 0161 549 6456 and ask to speak to member of the TIPS team.

Over services we work closely with

List of services

Home-Start:

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers & expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. Home-Start volunteers are trained to support families through their toughest times. They work to build your strengths and give you the support which you say you need.

https://www.home-start.org.uk/home-start-trafford-salford-wigan

Dad Matters:

Dad Matters is part of Home-Start specifically catered to support dad’s who are expecting, adjusting to life with a new baby or who have experienced baby loss. They support dads to have the best possible relationship with their families.

https://dadmatters.org.uk/trafford/

Health Visiting:

Health Visitors work with families from pregnancy through to school entry. They aim to promote the health and wellbeing of the whole family, helping to prevent illness and help people stay well to ensure the best health and development outcomes for parents and their children.

https://traffordlco.org/services/childrens-community-services/health-visiting/

Trafford Talking Therapies:

Trafford Talking Therapies provides talking therapy for adults of all ages: it is free, confidential, and proven to be effective. They have trained practitioners offering support ranging guided self-help with Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Psychology and Counselling, enabling you to learn ways to help you cope better. In additional to individual therapy, they also offer couple counselling for depression and various groups.

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/trafford-talking-therapies/

Specialist Perinatal Service:

This team is a service for women experiencing moderate-severe mental health problems in the perinatal period, and for those with a past or family history of mental health difficulties. They work closely with parent infant mental health services, talking therapies and other services to support woman and their infants.

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/perinatal-community/

Infant feeding support group:

This service supports women and their families both in the antenatal and postnatal period who want to breastfeed. They offer support via phone, home visits, drop-in sessions and educational workshops. A drop in runs every Tuesday 10am-12pm at The Life Centre Cafe, Sale, M33 4BP

https://traffordlco.org/services/childrens-community-services/breastfeeding-support/

Bumps and Butterflies – young person support:

Butterflies are a friendly Young Parents Group. The groups are specially for parents under the age of 20. You can meet new friends, get advice, information and support while having fun. Their workshop is every Wednesday 10.30-2pm at Sale Talkshop, M33 7ZF. Lunch is provided and activities

https://www.trafforddirectory.co.uk/kb5/trafford/fsd/service.page?id=wI8igz91NBE

Resources and support for over 2s

Solihull Parenting programme:

This offers online courses & resources for parents from conception up to +19 years. They can be taken anytime and are available in 108 languages. The programmes need to be worked through in order, which can take some time but will help you develop a well-rounded understanding of your child. In Trafford you can access them for free using the code: WATERPARK

https://inourplace.co.uk/

Raising children – supporting toddlers/pre-schoolers

This Australian website is full of free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help your family grow and thrive together. It is designed for busy families and is full of tips and tricks for you to try. They have articles, videos and interactive resources tailored to different ages and stages, as well as sections to help you look after yourself as a parent.

https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers

https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers

Resources and support for under 2s

Getting to know your baby videos:

The Getting to Know Your Baby videos have been designed to help parents, caregivers, and health professionals to know how to support the development of a baby’s emotional wellbeing. The videos fall under the following categories: Introduction and why bonding matters, bonding before birth, baby states, early interactions, sleeping and soothing.

https://aimh.uk/get-to-know-your-baby/

Your Baby and You online resource

This resource from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust can help you find your way with your little one. It’s packed with information and things to help you get to know and understand your baby.

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/your-baby-and-you

Solihull Parenting programme:

This offers online courses & resources for parents from conception up to +19 years. They can be taken anytime and are available in 108 languages. The programmes need to be worked through in order, which can take some time but will help you develop a well-rounded understanding of your child. In Trafford you can access them for free using the code: WATERPARK

https://inourplace.co.uk/

BBC Tiny Happy People:

Tiny Happy People is a resource which can help you develop your child’s language and communications skills, so they get the best start in life. There’s information about how your baby develops as well as plenty of ideas for activities you can do with them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

Bonding with your baby – NSPCC:

There are many ways you can bond with your baby, and you can start before they are born. The NSPCC has advice and tips on how to connect with your child and develop that bond as they grow.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/bond-with-baby/

Antenatal resources and support

Baby buddy app:

Baby buddy app is a pregnancy and parenting app full of information. It’s made for parents and caregivers during pregnancy, birth and their baby’s first year. It’s free and can help you:

Understand pregnancy and birth and your choice
Become confident as a parent
Understand your baby
Support your baby to develop from newborn to toddler
Look after your physical and mental health
Nurture healthy relationships
Enjoy your baby’s first year!

https://www.babybuddyapp.co.uk/

Raising children – support in pregnancy:

https://raisingchildren.net.au/pregnancy