Mental health teams working together to support new parents | News and events

Services supporting the mental health of expectant and new parents gathered to share knowledge with the aim of improving outcomes for families in Norfolk.

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) organised the event for NHS mental health teams and partner organisations who support care for babies, infants and families.

Presentations were given by NSFT’s inpatient unit, the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), and the MBU Outreach Team, community mental health teams, the specialist trauma-focused Lotus Team, the Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) and wellbeing service Talking Therapies and stands provided more information.

Representatives from the wider system were at the event including Integrated Care Board colleagues, midwifery teams, health visitors, the early years child and family service, the family hubs team, Get Me Out of These Four Walls, TIME Norfolk, the East Anglia Children’s Hospice and MPOWER.

A key focus of the event was making sure all services work as a system, with a family-based approach when supporting new mothers which includes carers, fathers and families.

NSFT perinatal service manager Talent Bailey said: “The past seven years have been a period of rapid development for our perinatal services in Norfolk. Our teams are working with approximately 10% of the birthing population locally. We want to make sure we get the best outcomes for these service users.”

Melanie White, consultant perinatal psychologist and associate clinical director for specialist services at NSFT, said: “It was great to see an outstanding range of services together in one room. By networking and sharing knowledge and experience across the system of support services we can work together to provide safer, kinder and better care to babies, infants and families that need it.”

NSFT chief nurse Anthony Deery said: “It’s great that we are forging partnerships with other organisations to promote safer, kinder and better working practices, and making sure we work as a system for the benefit of our service users and families.”