Barnardo’s NI welcomes the opportunity to provide our response to the Proposed Content and Action Plan for the Infant Mental Health Framework. Our comments are informed by our work with the diverse communities of children and families that we support through our 45+ services in Northern Ireland, including providing services to support infant mental health and parent-infant relationship during the first 1,001 days of a babies life.
ABC PiP stands for Attachment, Bonding and Communication Parent Infant Partnership, it is one of only two specialised Parent-Infant Relationship Teams in NI. ABC PiP’s aim is to enhance the life opportunities and outcomes of infants and their families by improving parent-infant relationships and creating stronger bonds and attachment. ABC PiP are supporting parents and professionals to understand and improve infant mental health including babies’ social and emotional development in the first 1,001 days of life. The team deliver 1:1 family home interventions across the SEHSCT area.
Our response will provide on a number of cross-cutting themes and where possible will link it back to relevant sections of the framework.