PIMH Training Programmes

Our programmes can be used for single or multi-agency audiences, across all UK nations, to build advocacy for and understanding of perinatal and infant mental health. It addresses the fundamental requirements for all those working with parents and families in the perinatal period to manage mild to moderate perinatal mental illness, to understand and recognise some of the impact of these disorders on the infant, their family and society, and to know when to refer on. Our events are co-delivered by facilitators experienced in multi-agency training delivery, and joined by additional speakers who share their lived experience of perinatal mental health on the day.

Engaging in these programmes equips participants to develop the mindset and skills required to work effectively with families in the perinatal period. The programme content is delivered across the following modules:

Perinatal and Infant Mental Health: the underpinning policy and research of what it is and why it matters
The Perinatal Frame of Mind: perinatal mental health across the lifecourse
Mental health conditions in the perinatal period: signs, symptoms and impact on the family
Identification, assessment and intervention
Managing risk and child protection
Developing high quality, integrated and inclusive services

Multi-agency training

An integrated training approach through multi-agency training is central to the future of coordinated and integrated perinatal care for families. We offer our PIMH training programmes across the workforce, including health visiting, maternity and neonatal care, mental health professionals, social care, early years and voluntary organisations supporting parents and carers.

What is Awareness training?

The Awareness format of training is excellent for growing knowledge and confidence across the workforce. The Awareness training aims to offer the same high quality learning experience as our Champions training, to support participants to develop the mindset and skills required to work effectively with families in the perinatal period, to promote good emotional health, offer evidence-based assessment and support, and know when to refer on to other services.

Following training the participants receive access to resources for consolidation of their own learning only, and there is no access to materials to support a cascade of Awareness training (see Champions for this format of training).

The PIMH Awareness programme is recognised as Level 1 learning for the Start for Life Family Hubs initiative and is suitable and currently used to support learning across a wide range of professional disciplines.

What is Champions training?

The Champions model of training is excellent for sustainability and growing the capacity of a workforce to meet its own needs for future training. Following training, the Champions can use resources provided to undertake a cascade of awareness training to colleagues (where agreed locally).

The Champions programme also aims to support informal leadership and advocacy for the subject. Champions are intended to be advocates for families impacted within their local area, be a resource for colleagues around the subject (in line with their scope of practice) and empower colleagues to promote parity of esteem for PIMH, become involved in supporting and progressing integrated care pathways/initiatives in their area, and promote evidence-based practice for the subject within their work.

Attributes of a Champion include: having an interest in PIMH, being a good communicator and having the confidence to promote the subject with others (or train from a lesson plan and resources), and being organised and able to contribute to initiatives being developed in their workplace or deliver small groups of awareness training (where agreed locally).

PIMH Training Programmes options

PIMH Champions Training

PIMH Awareness Training