The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC)

The Welsh Government has recently published Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC) Guidelines and Standards for Wales. The Guidelines aim to standardise practice and improve the quality of the NIPEC examination, contributing to the health and wellbeing of babies and infants through early detection of congenital abnormalities of the eyes, hips, heart and (in males) testes. The Guidelines have been developed in collaboration with experts from across Wales based on research evidence and best practice. The guidelines will be reviewed periodically and updated in accordance with any new or emerging evidence.

The newborn and infant physical examination is offered to all babies in Wales. The main aims of the examination are to:

Identify and refer all children born with congenital abnormalities of the eyes, heart, hips and (in males) testes, where these are detectable, within 72 hours of birth.
To further identify those abnormalities that may become detectable by 6 weeks of age, at the physical infant examination.
Reduce morbidity and mortality.

The NIPEC examination must be completed by a trained practitioner who is competent to undertake all elements of the newborn screening examination and who has undergone relevant training. This can be a midwife, nurse, health visitor, doctor, or physician associate.

Health Education and Improvement Wales has developed resources to support NIPEC practitioners with their continuing professional development (CPD) with an aim of standardising the approach across Wales, they can be found here The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC) – HEIW (nhs.wales).

Go to Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC) Guidelines and Standards for Wales

New opportunity – Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Trainer

The iHV is seeking to appoint a part-time Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Trainer to support delivery of the iHV award-winning UK-wide training programmes, either face-to-face or virtually (as currently being delivered), as well as supporting a wide range of evolving workstreams across the Mental Health portfolio.

The post holder will be an experienced trainer, including as a perinatal/infant mental health Champion, and with experience of delivering training to multi-professional groups. They will contribute to the evaluation of the delivery of the programmes. They will be home-based and the post will include pre-planned travel and overnight stays in other areas to support training.

A confident self-starter, they will be passionate about the contribution that health visiting can make to reducing the impact of perinatal mental illness and improving the public’s health.

The post holder will have well-established local PIMH networks and able to demonstrate engagement with national level activities in the field of PIMH.

This a part-time position – 0.4 or 8 days a month with possibility of additional days some weeks by arrangement. This is 1-year fixed-term contract with probability of extension.

Applications close: Thursday 17 December 2020

Interviews: Monday 21 December 2020 (please keep this clear)

For further details, job description and how to apply

New opportunity with iHV – Professional Development Officer, PIMH

Exciting and unique development opportunity with the Institute

Professional Development Officer, Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, South of England

The iHV is seeking to appoint health visitor expert in perinatal and infant mental health and practice development to work with them supporting training and various other related projects, as well as covering some national meetings. The post holder will be up to full time but could be 4 days, we would also consider a job share if the post holders were based in different areas of the country.

The post holder, who will have a master’s degree, will ideally be based in the South of England but this isn’t essential and will be prepared to travel within the post, mostly within the UK, but potentially also to European countries. They will ideally be an iHV infant and perinatal mental health champion, have broad experience in these fields, with additional research or project development experience.

A confident self-starter, they will deliver training, attend meetings, develop regional forums for our PIMH Champions and input advice to other work streams on request including to a European project just funded.

The post holder will be highly respected by colleagues for their capacity to drive and deliver local professional developments.

1-year post/secondment in the first instance with expectation of extension. The Institute offers a competitive pension scheme.

For further details, job description and application form

Applications close: 9.00 am Monday 18 March 2019

Interviews: Thursday 4 April 2019

Less than one week to submit PIMH abstracts!

With less than one week to submit your abstract for the iHV National Multi-agency Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Conference: The Hidden challenges, we would not want you to miss out on this opportunity to showcase your work in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH)!

Abstracts are welcome in areas of new research and local innovations in the fields of perinatal and/or infant mental health.

Abstract submission deadline Tue 13 March 2018!

This multi-agency conference is a brilliant opportunity to get the latest updates and evidence in perinatal and infant mental health.

As well as stimulating learning through debate and discussion via presentations from internationally-acclaimed speakers, the day will offer focused opportunities to learn from each other through sharing best and promising practice in PIMH.

Please see programme.

Abstract Submission and Timeline

Abstracts are welcome in areas of new research and local innovations in the fields of perinatal and/or infant mental health. The abstract should be no more than 250 words and provide an overview clearly demonstrating excellence, innovation and novel approaches to improve outcomes in perinatal and/or infant mental health.

Please submit your abstract as a Microsoft Word document to [email protected].

Tue 13 March 2018 – Abstract submission deadline

14 – 26 March – iHV peer-review process on submissions

Tue 27 March 2018 – participants informed of acceptance of abstracts for a poster. Full guidance on the poster format will be provided if your abstract is successful.

Tue 24 April 2018 – Poster presentations at the iHV National Multi-agency Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Conference: The Hidden challenges in Manchester.

It is important that you book to secure your conference place on or before the final registration deadline for accepting your offer to present.

Early bird tickets (for iHV Champions, iHV members and non-members) are available until 29 March 2018, so don’t miss them!

For further conference details and to book your place

Green paper for Transforming Children’s Mental Health – a missed opportunity

Institute of Health Visiting raises their concerns that the Green paper proposals for Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision are a missed opportunity to reduce the number of children and young people ever experiencing mental illness.

In a letter to Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt MP, the Institute sets out the evidence for the green paper to address the opportunities for building emotional resilience in childhood from pregnancy onwards, and reducing the incidence of mental illness in childhood. It also highlights the critical contribution of the health visiting service to early intervention, through full delivery of the Healthy Child Programme as a gateway to appropriate levels of support for children and, where needed, specialist services.

Download iHV letter to Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt MP

Great specialist conferences – now open for bookings!

We are delighted to open the bookings for two new specialist conferences:

Breastfeeding: a public health priority
iHV National Multi-agency Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Conference: The Hidden challenges

Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, executive director iHV, commented:

“It is a privilege to able to offer these fabulous specialist conferences with such distinguished speakers to support the health visiting profession. Please do take advantage of an iHV accredited event with great CPD and the latest updates in these two extremely important areas of health visiting practice. Book your place soon as we expect there to be pressure on places!”

Breastfeeding: a public health priority

19 April 2018, in London
Accredited conference
This event is joint hosted by the iHV and the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), and is supported the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi).
The conference programme is designed to illustrate the need for support and show examples of what integrated services can achieve in the community.
The World’s Breastfeeding Trends initiative findings and recommendations which will be shared during the day can strengthen health visitor practice and improve public health if implemented.
Earlybird tickets (for iHV members and non-members) are available until 16 March 2018

Go to the RSPH event website for further details, programme and to book your place

iHV National Multi-agency Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Conference: The Hidden challenges

24 April 2018, in Manchester
Accredited conference
This multi-agency conference is a brilliant opportunity to get the latest updates and evidence in perinatal and infant mental health.
As well as stimulating learning through debate and discussion via presentations from internationally-acclaimed speakers, the day will offer focused opportunities to learn from each other through sharing best and promising practice in PIMH.
A call for abstracts is currently open – providing the opportunity to showcase your work in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH). Abstracts are welcome in areas of new research and local innovations in the fields of perinatal and/or infant mental health.
Earlybird tickets (for iHV Champions, iHV members and non-members) are available until 29 March 2018, so don’t miss them! Limited student places also available.

Click here, for further details on abstract submissions, the conference programme and how to book

We always seek to ensure our activities comply with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative – our events are not and never will be sponsored by the formula milk industry.

Call for PIMH poster abstracts

The iHV is delighted to offer you an opportunity to showcase your work in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (PIMH) at the iHV National Multi-agency Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Conference: The hidden challenges, being held in Manchester on 24 April 2018. Please see programme.

Abstract Submission and Timeline

Abstracts are welcome in areas of new research and local innovations in the fields of perinatal and/or infant mental health. The abstract should be no more than 250 words and provide an overview clearly demonstrating excellence, innovation and novel approaches to improve outcomes in perinatal and/or infant mental health.

Please submit your abstract as a Microsoft Word document to [email protected].

Tue 13 March 2018 – Abstract submission deadline
14 – 26 March – iHV peer-review process on submissions
Tue 27 March 2018 – participants informed of acceptance of abstracts for a poster. Full guidance on the poster format will be provided if your abstract is successful.
Tue 10 April 2018 – Poster deadline for conference
Tue 24 April 2018 – Poster presentations at the iHV National Multi-agency Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Conference: The hidden challenges in Manchester

It is important that you book to secure your conference place on or before the final registration deadline for accepting your offer to present.

Early bird tickets (for iHV Champions, iHV members and non-members) are available until 29 March 2018, so don’t miss them!

For more conference details and to book your place

Statement on the introduction of peanut and hen’s egg into the infant diet

A joint statement assessing the health benefits and risks of the introduction of peanut and hen’s egg into the infant diet before six months of age in the UK.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) have published a joint statement outlining the assessment undertaken by the joint SACN-COT working group on the timing of introduction of peanut and hen’s egg into the infant diet before 6 months of age in the UK. This paper summarises the findings of the working group and provides consensus advice to government.

Conclusions

The benefit-risk assessment indicated that there were insufficient data to support the existence of a “window of opportunity” for the introduction of peanut before six months of age. Evidence that the introduction of hen’s egg before six months might be beneficial was limited and derived from RCTs where participants were not representative of the general population.

The benefit-risk assessment indicated that there were insufficient data to demonstrate that the introduction of peanut or hen’s egg into the infant diet between four and six months of age reduced the risk of developing food allergy to any greater extent than introduction from around six months.

Reasonable data exist to demonstrate that the deliberate exclusion or delayed introduction of peanut or hen’s egg beyond six to twelve months of age may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods.

Recommendations for government

The government should continue to recommend exclusive breastfeeding for around the first six months of life. Advice on complementary feeding should state that foods containing peanut and hen’s egg need not be differentiated from other complementary foods. Complementary foods should be introduced in an age-appropriate form from around six months of age, alongside continued breastfeeding, at a time and in a manner to suit both the family and individual child.

The deliberate exclusion of peanut or hen’s egg beyond six to twelve months of age may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods. Once introduced, and where tolerated, these foods should be part of the infant’s usual diet, to suit both the individual child and family. If initial exposure is not continued as part of the infant’s usual diet, then this may increase the risk of sensitisation and subsequent food allergy.

Families of infants with a history of early-onset eczema or suspected food allergy may wish to seek medical advice before introducing these foods.

Go to SACN-COT statement on the introduction of peanut and hen’s egg into the infant diet

iHV welcomes new HEE Guidance on Specialist Health Visitors in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health

The Institute of Health Visiting warmly welcomes the new commissioning and workforce development guidance on Specialist Health Visitors in Perinatal and Infant Mental health (PIMH) – What they do and why they matter, published today by Health Education England (HEE). It concludes that all women and their partners should have access to a specialist health visitor in perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH) and recommends at least one for every health visiting service.

Creating Specialist Health Visitor posts in PIMH within every health visiting service will play a valuable part in reducing the incidence and impact of postnatal depression and other perinatal mental health problems. This will be through earlier diagnosis, better intervention and support – creating savings on child and adult mental health services, and improved public health.

Dr Cheryll Adams, Executive Director of the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV), said:

“The iHV is delighted to endorse this new guidance which provides a framework for improvements in the services that health visitors can provide to families to promote their mental health.

“Through the health visiting ‘universal’ service, health visitors are well-placed to identify those families requiring additional support, especially where the mother (or indeed father) may be suffering from perinatal mental illness, or where the bond between parent and baby may be compromised. However, health visitors have many other roles and responsibilities taking their time during this important period of every child’s life and they would benefit from specialist support in this challenging arena.”

The framework sets out the important role of specialist health visitors in PIMH, illustrates the value to parents and other health professionals involved in a mother’s care and recommends that every woman should have access to a specialist Health Visitor as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

Read the full press release