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Dad Matters offer

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Dad Matters Update Sept 25 final with notes

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Family Resources for Early Development (FRED)

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Family Resources for Early Development (FRED)

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For children aged 2-3 who are showing signs of possible neurodivergence.

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The programme is an 8-week course for parents and carers of children between the ages of 1 and 3.

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The Sensory Processing Advice Pathway;  is for a child or young person with sensory processing difficulties that are impacting on at least two functional areas of daily living. The intervention consists of a training session for parents and/or a young people about sensory processing difficulties. The parents/carer will then have the opportunity to opt in for one-to-one telephone consultation for problem-solving with an OT.

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"I was understood with my situations & problems & didn't feel belittled."

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"I was understood with my situations & problems & didn't feel belittled."

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Parent of a 2-year-old

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"Facilitators clearly cared & passionate about course, were always encouraging & ran course with enthusiasm. Truly transformative - more people need to access! Incredible facilitators."

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"Facilitators clearly cared & passionate about course, were always encouraging & ran course with enthusiasm. Truly transformative - more people need to access! Incredible facilitators."

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Parent of a 1-year-old

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"This service came to me at the right time.  I was in need of this, this service has refocused me and helped me to rebuild my confidence as a person and a mother."

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"This service came to me at the right time.  I was in need of this, this service has refocused me and helped me to rebuild my confidence as a person and a mother."

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Mum of a 3-year-old

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Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF formerly PACT) is funded by the Department for Education and aims to work in partnership with Manchester City Council, Health and Education settings to shape and influence services, to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet the needs of disabled children, young people and their families living in Manchester.MPCF understands the day to day challenges faced by parent-carers, as we are parent-carers too. The aim of MPCF is to give parent-carers a voice and to make their views heard in the improvement of services for our children.

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Early Years Social Communication Pathway Workshops Info

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Early Years Social Communication Pathway Workshops Info

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I self-referred to the Incredible Years Parenting Programme and I have found the experience absolutely amazing.  I experienced nothing but love, support and fantastic guidance from the group leaders.  The group leaders have shown me multiple strategies which can be utilised for children of all temperaments and ages.  Their advice & parenting techniques work a charm with consistency and effort; and my children’s behaviour/routines have improved immensely.

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I self-referred to the Incredible Years Parenting Programme and I have found the experience absolutely amazing.  I experienced nothing but love, support and fantastic guidance from the group leaders.  The group leaders have shown me multiple strategies which can be utilised for children of all temperaments and ages.  Their advice & parenting techniques work a charm with consistency and effort; and my children’s behaviour/routines have improved immensely.

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You’ll be as grateful and extremely proud of yourself and your children as I am after you see how much this course can help.  No one knows everything and the best thing we can all do is try to improve our knowledge for our children’s best interests.  You won’t regret it :)

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You’ll be as grateful and extremely proud of yourself and your children as I am after you see how much this course can help.  No one knows everything and the best thing we can all do is try to improve our knowledge for our children’s best interests.  You won’t regret it :)

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Mum of 4 children aged between 8 months - 9 years.

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I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so welcoming, so patient, understanding and helpful for me to grow and understand both myself and my son more.  It’s been a real eye opener.

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I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so welcoming, so patient, understanding and helpful for me to grow and understand both myself and my son more.  It’s been a real eye opener.

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Parent of 3-year-old with Social Communication Difficulties.

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My major issue was sibling jealousy & my older son not following rules and showing anger. Both of those issues have been resolved and I now feel confident enough to tackle them, whenever these issues do arise.

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My major issue was sibling jealousy & my older son not following rules and showing anger. Both of those issues have been resolved and I now feel confident enough to tackle them, whenever these issues do arise.

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I loved being a part of the group & seeing other mums speak about their issues; made me feel connected & not isolated in the motherhood journey.

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I loved being a part of the group & seeing other mums speak about their issues; made me feel connected & not isolated in the motherhood journey.

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I want to acknowledge the hard work that the Group Leaders have done for me and the other mums in the group.

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I want to acknowledge the hard work that the Group Leaders have done for me and the other mums in the group.

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I have seen major changes in both my boys & our relationship with each other. I have achieved all my goals, if not more, that I set prior to the course starting.

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I have seen major changes in both my boys & our relationship with each other. I have achieved all my goals, if not more, that I set prior to the course starting.

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Little Moments Together cards (0-9 months): https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/little-moments-together-cards/

The National Literacy Trust’s Little Moments Together Cards are filled with tips and conversation ideas to help you chat to your newborn – 9 month year old, throughout the day, which will help them begin to communicate.

Little Moments Together cards (10-24 months):

https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/little-moments-together-cards/

The National Literacy Trust’s Little Moments Together Cards are filled with tips and conversation ideas to help you chat to your 10-24 month year old, throughout the day, which will help them learn new words and sentences.

Chat, Play, Read activity booklets (0-3 years):

https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/chat-play-read-interactive-activity-booklets/

The National Literacy Trust’s Chat, Play, Read booklets are filled with fun and simple activities. Each one will support your child to learn new words and develop their language and communication skills.

Walk and talk cards (0-5): https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/talking-to-your-child-when-out-and-about/

The National Literacy Trust’s walk and talk cards contain ideas and tips to help you chat to your baby or child more while you are out and about. This will help them learn new words and develop their communication skills.

National Literacy Trust newsletter

The National Literacy Trust have a newsletter for families with 0-5’s, which offers free activities and support. Sign up on their website: https://wordsforlife.org.uk/newsletter/

Reading, writing, speaking and listening support:

The National Literacy Trust’s Words for Life website is filled with activities and support to improve babies and children’s language, literacy and communication skills from home: https://wordsforlife.org.uk/

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We are also able to offer support for complex regulatory difficulties such as sleep, where the problem has not resolved following universal input. For sleep difficulties we are able to initially offer online workshops for these parents. Please see the Padlet link for the Manchester Sleep Pathway, which includes diaries, assessment tools and intervention support ideas for universal services to share with parents and carers.

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This includes individual child psychotherapy, parent-only psychotherapy and psychotherapy assessments (such as Psychoanalytic State of Mind Assessments/Internal World assessments).

Sometimes difficulties do not become apparent for a while after having a baby, and sometimes it is this particular stage of childhood which is the challenge. Having a toddler can be particularly difficult if the parent(s) have had a difficult childhood; their own mental health problems or difficulty bonding with their child when they were a baby. Perhaps the family are expecting another baby or have already welcomed another sibling into the family and there is a struggle with this transition. There might be new challenges at this stage of parenting which have brought issues to the surface such as separation anxiety as the toddler starts nursery or school. Psychotherapy can offer an appropriate assessment and/or intervention to help unpick what is going on under the surface and improve the relationships and the experiences for the parents and child.

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This includes parent-only psychotherapy and antenatal psychotherapy.

Having a baby can bring up complicated feelings for the parents, including memories about their own childhood experiences, and how it feels to be a parent to their particular baby. They may have had a complicated pregnancy, previous loss, or a traumatic birth. They may have existing mental health difficulties, or something might be stirred up by becoming a parent. These experiences all make the transition to parenthood especially difficult and psychotherapy is a space where this can be explored in more depth to help understand and improve the relationships and experience of being a parent.

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CAPS Parenting Interventions starting in Spring 2026.  CAPS will be delivering Incredible Years Pre-School Parent Programme, Baby Groups, Riding the Rapid - Pre-School Years and Circle of Security groups.

The plan explains how to refer to each of the interventions.

If you wish to refer to the IY Pre-School Programme, please contact one of the Parent Group Leaders/Outreach workers listed at the side of the group you would prefer your referred family to attend; however, you can call any group leader.  Children should be aged two – four years old – but once they reach five years old we cannot accept them.

If you are referring to the IY Baby group, please complete the attached referral form and return it to the relevant area (North, South, Central) as mentioned at the end of the form.  Please give as much information as possible.  All babies should be aged up to five months old but if you have any babies you wish to refer who are old than this, then they can still be referred for help from CAPS.

If you have any queries, please contact one of the parent group leaders but for more specific help, please contact Diane, Eve or Michelle whose phone numbers are shown on the Workplan.

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CAPS IY Parenting Groups In Manchester Workplan - Spring 2026 - Updated

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We are looking for referrals of parents who may benefit from this intervention, who you think may benefit from more work in understanding attachment and children’s emotional needs.

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NHS Manchester TT Perinatal Pathway Info for professionals Oct 2023 (4).DOCX

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Please complete the following enquiry form.

Once we have received your enquiry, if there is capacity for the project you are referring for it will be passed to the project lead who will contact you to complete a full referral over the phone. If there is no capacity then we will hold your enquiry on our list and keep you updated on capacity each month. As soon as the project has capacity your enquiry will be picked up and you will be contacted to make the telephone referral.

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Please complete the following enquiry form. Once we have received your enquiry, if there is capacity for the project you are referring for it will be passed to the project lead who will contact you to complete a full referral over the phone. If there is no capacity then we will hold your enquiry on...

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CAPS offer psychological support with both parents in pregnancy and parents of children under 5 years.

The aim of CAPS is to support parents and carers to help their children to develop to their fullest potential. This includes promoting improved quality of parent/child relationships; and supporting parents and carers with their children’s emotional and behavioural difficulties, and to promote their school readiness.

CAPS can help when you and a parent may be worried about:-

bonding with their unborn baby, infant or child following a difficult labour, postnatal depression or anxiety; or because they have had difficult childhood experiences themselves

understanding what their baby is trying to tell them; how best to soothe their baby and how to help them feel secure

managing their child’s behaviour and support them to manage their child's feelings and/or developmental differences

their child’s feeding, sleeping or toileting (once parent has had a universal intervention around this)

their child seeming very anxious or worried

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CAPS is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary partnership between MFT, MCC, Big Life, Family Action and Home Start. We are a City-Wide team comprising of Group leaders, Clinical Psychologists, Specialist Parent Infant Mental-Health Health Visitors, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists and Midwives, Assistant Psychologists and Administrators. Our groups are delivered by a range of professionals from the team and may involve collaborations with Outreach workers.

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CAPS is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary partnership between MFT, MCC, Big Life, Family Action and Home Start. We are a City-Wide team comprising of Group leaders, Clinical Psychologists, Specialist Parent Infant Mental-Health Health Visitors, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists and Midwives, Assistant Psychologists and Administrators. Our groups are delivered by a range of professionals from the team and may involve collaborations with Outreach workers.

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Our contact details are:

NORTH (based at the Bridge in Moston) – 0161 203 3262/3261

Email mft.northmanchestercaps@nhs.net

CENTRAL team (based at our North & South bases) - 0161 203 3260

Email mft.caps.central@nhs.net

SOUTH (based at the Carol Kendrick Centre in Wythenshawe) – 0161 529 6062 ext 4

Email Mft.southmanchestercamhs@nhs.net

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Manchester Children and Parents Service - Kelly's Story

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CAPS provides Manchester's Community Parent Infant Mental Health team offer

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Perinatal Infant Mental Health: An integrated pathway

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Perinatal Infant Mental Health: An integrated pathway

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Creche & Interpreters are provided as needed

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Creche & Interpreters are provided as needed

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Manchester Psychological Therapies

Manchester Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service is part of a national programme called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

The service is for people with common mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression who are motivated to work towards changing the problem.

We offer free psychological treatment as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. This is mainly Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Counselling. We can help you learn ways to help yourself so that you feel more able to cope with your problems.

Our team of therapists and counsellors are based in centres throughout North, Central and South Manchester. Once assessed, you can choose how you would like to have your therapy delivered, we can see you face to face, or remotely via video or telephone appointments.

We also offer Compassion Focused Therapy workshops for pregnant individuals and new parents.

Manchester Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service is a step 3 IAPT service, we work with people who are stepped up from the step 2 IAPT Service. In Manchester the step 2 service is delivered by a third sector organisation, called Self Help Services.

Both us and Self Help Services accept professional referrals, but you can self-refer to Self Help Services. They will then refer you to our service if needed.

Manchester Psychological Therapies Service provides more intensive therapy than the Step 2 Service. We work with people who present with (this list is not exhaustive):

Anxiety

Depression

Phobias

OCD

Bereavement

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Health Anxiety

Long Term Health Conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue.

Services within Manchester Psychological Therapies

Manchester Psychological Therapies Nav - Perinatal

Pregnancy and Early Childhood Services

Becoming a parent is a major life change, with role changes and a mixture of emotions.
Learn More

Manchester Psychological Therapies Nav - Perinatal

Mindfulness-based Therapy Groups

Find out more about Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy groups offered by the service
Learn More

Contact us

Chorlton House, 70 Manchester Road, Manchester, M21 9UN

Telephone 1: 0161 271 0190

Opening times

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm with some availability for early morning and evening appointments.

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Manchester Psychological Therapies Manchester Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service is part of a national programme called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). The service is for people with common mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression who are motivated to work towards changing the problem.

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NHS Manchester Talking Therapies (previously Self-Help Services)

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NHS Manchester Talking Therapies (previously Self-Help Services)

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Introducing NHS talking therapies
New name, same service

IAPT (improving access to psychological therapies) services across the country have been renamed NHS talking therapies.

That means IAPT services provided by The Big Life group are now called:

NHS Manchester Talking Therapies (The Big Life group)

NHS Stockport Talking Therapies (The Big Life group)

NHS East Cheshire Talking Therapies (The Big Life group)

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Talking Therapies (The Big Life group)

The inclusion of (The Big Life group) is to help distinguish between multiple providers of talking therapies in certain areas (i.e. Stockport).

The name change follows a national consultation with over 3,600 people, led by NHS England. Creating a consistent name across the country aims to increase referrals from people who can benefit from talking therapies, ensure people are aware of their local service and improve recruitment. There will be no change to the way the service works.

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Manchester Psychological Therapies

Manchester Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service is part of a national programme called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).

The service is for people with common mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression who are motivated to work towards changing the problem.

We offer free psychological treatment as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. This is mainly Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Counselling. We can help you learn ways to help yourself so that you feel more able to cope with your problems.

Our team of therapists and counsellors are based in centres throughout North, Central and South Manchester. Once assessed, you can choose how you would like to have your therapy delivered, we can see you face to face, or remotely via video or telephone appointments.

We also offer Compassion Focused Therapy workshops for pregnant individuals and new parents.

Manchester Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service is a step 3 IAPT service, we work with people who are stepped up from the step 2 IAPT Service. In Manchester the step 2 service is delivered by a third sector organisation, called Self Help Services.

Both us and Self Help Services accept professional referrals, but you can self-refer to Self Help Services. They will then refer you to our service if needed.

Manchester Psychological Therapies Service provides more intensive therapy than the Step 2 Service. We work with people who present with (this list is not exhaustive):

Anxiety

Depression

Phobias

OCD

Bereavement

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Health Anxiety

Long Term Health Conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue.

Services within Manchester Psychological Therapies

Manchester Psychological Therapies Nav - Perinatal

Pregnancy and Early Childhood Services

Becoming a parent is a major life change, with role changes and a mixture of emotions.
Learn More

Manchester Psychological Therapies Nav - Perinatal

Mindfulness-based Therapy Groups

Find out more about Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy groups offered by the service
Learn More

Contact us

Chorlton House, 70 Manchester Road, Manchester, M21 9UN

Telephone 1: 0161 271 0190

Opening times

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm with some availability for early morning and evening appointments.

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Manchester Psychological Therapies Manchester Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service is part of a national programme called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). The service is for people with common mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression who are motivated to work towards changing the problem.

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What is Video Interaction Guidance? (VIG)

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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

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Manchester Health Visiting Service offers comprehensive advice and support to parents and carers of children from pre-birth to four and a half years.

What is a health visitor?

Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives with specialist additional qualifications in child, family and public health.

Their role is to offer information and support to families through the early years, from pregnancy and birth to primary school.

The health visiting service

Every family with a child under the age of four and a half has access to a health visitor and their team. The service is delivered through home visits, contact in the community and telephone calls as necessary.

The aim is to promote the health and well being of you and your family.

Healthy Child drop-in sessions for well babies and children are provided in various venues including Children's Centres, Health Centres and community buildings.

Health visitors work with other services such as GPs, midwives, school nurses and social workers.
Health visiting teams usually consist of health visitors, community staff nurses, community nursery nurses, early years outreach workers and team assistants.

All members of the team carry identification badges with photographs.

Our services include:

Home visits to all newborn babies and families new to the area.
Extra support.
Healthy Child drop-in sessions.
Health and development reviews at two months, nine months and two years.

We offer a range of advice and information on:
Children's health: Family health: Emotional support:

Feeding

Parenting skills

Postnatal depression

Sleeping

Healthy eating

Mental health

Play and development

Sexual health

Bereavement

Immunisations

Contraception

Domestic abuse

Minor ailments Minor illnesses

Drugs and alcohol Accident prevention

Disability

Meeting you

Before your baby is born you will receive support from the Midwifery Service, and from the Health Visiting Service between 28 and 36 weeks.

After the birth you will be contacted again by a health visitor who will make an appointment to visit you at home when your baby is between 10 and 14 days old.

During this visit you will be able to discuss the health and well being of your family and your child's developmental progress. The health visitor can provide advice, support and local information about drop-in sessions and services for children and families.

The Personal Child Health Record (or 'red book') is a record of your child's health and development, it is yours to keep. The health visitor will go through this with you on the first visit.
Please remember to take the book with you to your child's health appointments.

The Health Visiting Service is available between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. This is a non-emergency service. If you are worried about your child's health you should contact your GP, www.choosewellmanchester.org.uk, visit an NHS Walk-In Centre, or dial 111. In an emergency dial 999.

We offer Healthy Child drop-in sessions at various locations across Manchester. If you would like further information about child health drop-in sessions please contact your local team below.
Further information about children's health can be found at: www.mft.nhs.uk/community/

The Health Visiting service is divided into six districts across Manchester:

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Service Information for Parents and Carers - Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

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What is a health visitor? Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives with specialist additional qualifications in child, family and public health. Their role is to offer information and support to families through the early years, from pregnancy and birth to primary school. The health visiting service Every family with a child under the age [...]

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Autistic Parents UK is an Autistic-led Charity (CIO) and is committed to supporting Autistic parents in a number of ways.

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Being an Autistic parent can raise unique challenges that historically have been poorly supported. Autistic Parents UK is an Autistic-led Charity (CIO) and is committed to supporting Autistic parents in a number of ways including through peer support, education and advocacy.

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Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

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Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

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In recent years, there has been an increasing dialogue about the best ways to support children who have developmental differences. These children are traditionally referred to as having special educational needs (SEN).

While this term was originally designed to ensure that we identify and support those children in a timely manner, it has been criticised for its dominant focus on a child's deficits and delays. In short, SEN only gives us part of the picture yet it can often become a dominant label that negatively shapes and shifts their experiences. This has to change if we are dedicated to improving children's physical, social, emotional, cognitive and academic outcomes.

The aims of this booklet are to:

introduce the concept of neurodiversity in an accessible way

consider how ableism is a barrier to inclusion

explore neurodivergent profiles of development

develop practical approaches in becoming neurodiversity-informed within our early years practice.

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A guide to neurodiversity in the early years

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Best ways to support children who have developmental differences

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We are also able to offer support for complex regulatory difficulties such as sleep, where the problem has not resolved following universal input. For sleep difficulties we are able to initially offer online workshops for these parents. Please see the Padlet link for the Manchester Sleep Pathway, which includes diaries, assessment tools and intervention support ideas for universal services to share with parents and carers.

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We're there for parents when they need us the most, because childhood can’t wait.

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Home-Start Manchester. We are a local family support charity who recruit and train local parent volunteers to provide weekly emotional and practical home visiting support to families with at least one child under the age of 5 years.

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Welcome to Home-Start Manchester.
We are a local family support charity who recruit and train local parent volunteers to provide weekly emotional and practical home visiting support to families with at least one child under the age of 5
We are closed for the Easter break from 4:30pm Thursday 6th April and reopen on Tuesday 11th April.
If you need support, the following services are available over Easter:
Cost of Living Helpline: 0800 023 2692
Manchester Mind
Free 24/7 Shout text service. Text the word SHOUT to 85258
Samaritans: call 116 123 for free anytime day or night

"My volunteer was like an angel sent to bring me out of a dark place. I don't want to think about where me and my children would be without her.''
To help give children the best possible start in life, Home-Start supports parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the local community.

For an insight in to what we do, take a look at this video which looks at how Home-Start families are helped in getting their children 'school ready' and the training that volunteers go on in order to support families who are struggling to cope...

We are always keen to welcome new volunteers to the team! Are you: a parent or have parenting experience? able to commit 2-3 hours per week? able to attend an intensive induction training programme? looking to return to work or study, or wanting to give something back to the community? looking to gain new skills... Continue reading Volunteer for us?

Home-Start Manchester recruits and trains local parent volunteers to provide weekly emotional and practical home visiting support to families with at least one child under the age of 5 years. If you are looking for support for you and your family please visit our Support for you and your family... page If you are a professional and... Continue reading Need Support?

The Parent Infant Mental Health (PIMH) project is a Citywide partnership project in Manchester between CAPS (Child and Parent Service), Health Visiting and Home-Start. The project looks at Attachment and Brain Development and how important a child's experiences during the first 2 years of their life are, and how those experiences can have long lasting... Continue reading Parent Infant Mental Health Project

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Welcome to Home-Start Manchester. We are a local family support charity who recruit and train local parent volunteers to provide weekly emotional and practical home visiting support to families with at least one child under the age of 5 years. You can listen to the audio for this page here.

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For mums living in Manchester, aged 18 years and over, with a child under 2

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To refer to IY please fill out the referral form by following this link:

CAPS (Children and Parent Service) Incredible Years Referral Form

North & Central
Diane - 07469 660 472

Michelle - 07792 648 195

South
Eve - 07940 753 860

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An eight week course designed to support new mums in Manchester experiencing mental health challenges.
Referrals can be made to mumsmatter@manchestermind.org

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Mums Matter: Supporting New Mums in North Manchester - Manchester Mind

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For many women being a new mum can be a difficult, exhausting, frightening and stressful experience. This course aims to help.

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Greater Manchester Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team

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Greater Manchester Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team

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Pregnancy, family and mental health

During an ordinary journey to becoming a parent, anyone's mental health can be more vulnerable, especially if during this journey extra ordinary things happen such as loss, trauma, conflict, ill health or isolation.

You're not alone. There's a range of support available online and from local peer support groups

Mental health problems during pregnancy and around the time of having a baby are common and can happen to anyone. This might include the parent who is pregnant or who has given birth or the partner. Infants can also be vulnerable in their mental health. In Greater Manchester we keep the whole family in mind. We want to support and help families get off to the best start together, and for families who've lost a little one we want to offer you support to help with your healing.

In Greater Manchester we're working hard to develop a range of support to suit everyone regardless of how much or how little support you need.

We're developing this page to provide a space for you to find out more about how to access the help which is right for you. Our IAPT (psychological therapy services provide talking therapy to help with a range of common mental health problems which can happen around the time of having a baby and our specialist perinatal community mental health teams can provide extra mental health support if needed.

There are also Locality parent infant mental health teams who are specialist services focusing specifically on supporting the bond/relationship with parents and their babies.
Need support now?
If ever you feel you are not able to keep yourself or your family safe, please seek urgent help - 24 hours a day you can contact NHS direct on 111 who will help you find a safe way forward.

Or you can contact the local 24 hour NHS Mental health helplines

Pennine Care for Tameside, Glossop, Stockport, Bury, Rochdale Heywood, Middleton and Oldham: 0800 014 9995

GMMH for Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Bolton : 0800 953 0285 ​

GMMH for Wigan: 0800 051 3253

If you are at immediate risk call 999 or go directly to your nearest A and E department where mental health specialists will be able to offer you an urgent review.
For 24 hour support

Text support text BABYBUDDY to 85258. This will connect you with a trained volunteer who can support you to a place of calm through text messaging

Call the Samaritans on 116 123

Other support available Find out more about our work

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Pregnancy, family and mental health - Mental Health

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During an ordinary journey to becoming a parent, anyone's mental health can be more vulnerable, especially if during this journey extra ordinary things happen such as loss, trauma, conflict, ill health or isolation. You're not alone.

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Greater Manchester Perinatal and Parent Mental Health Services

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Promote your baby's social and emotional development

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Promote your baby's social and emotional development

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How and when do babies develop social skills? | Baby & toddler articles & support | NCT

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It’s amazing to watch our babies learn social skills, smile and interact. Professor Angelica Ronald looks at the stages of social development and how parents can encourage their baby at each step.

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We’re currently building a new website

The UK’s leading membership group for IMH practitioners

If you are looking to become a member, please contact us here.
Already a member? Contact us here for support.
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter for updates.
AiMH UK Events book here.

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AiMH - The Association for Infant Mental Health professionals in the UK

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If you are looking to become a member, please contact us here. Already a member?Contact us here for support. Follow us on , or for updates. AiMH UK Events .

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Promote development in your child at different age ranges

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Promote development in your child at different age ranges

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Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child's language skills. Explore our simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers' amazing early development.

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Children’s language development and parenting advice - BBC Tiny Happy People

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A chatty child is a happy child, so Tiny Happy People is here to help you develop your child’s communication skills through simple interaction and play.

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Supporting parents through their journey from pregnancy to the early stages of caring for your new baby

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Supporting parents through their journey from pregnancy to the early stages of caring for your new baby

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and we can help you find out just how much...

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We aim to help dads have successful relationships with their families, and to support dads with anxiety, stress and mental health issues.

We hope to get dads engaged with services that have traditionally been targeted at mums, and to train & support volunteer dads to work with us.

We work directly with services that support Dads, families and especially babies to increase engagement and knowledge across the sector.

We want to make sure dads know how important they are, how to access support when they need it and why it's essential for baby's development.

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VOLUNTEER WITH US EVENTS REGISTRATION FIND SUPPORT IN YOUR AREA DONATE HERE We aim to help dads have successful relationships with their families, and to support dads with anxiety, stress and mental health issues. We hope to get dads engaged with services that have traditionally been targeted at mums,

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Baby Bonding - An introduction to the programme

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This beautiful video showcases a gentle and playful attachment approach to supporting the parent-infant relationship; baby bonding.  Developed by Debi Maskell-Graham, baby bonding takes the very latest understanding of attachment-generative mechanisms and translates them into fun, effective and accessible activities and skills for parents and carers to enjoy with their babies and toddlers.  This lovely video was produced by Western Cape Association of Infant Mental Health and is presented by Caroline Sullivan, an experienced baby bonding practitioner working in Cape Town.  Enjoy!

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Baby Bonding is a very gentle and effective preventative and early intervention for parents and their babies-in-waiting and babies.

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baby bonding training:

from late pregnancy to first steps

baby bonding is a very gentle and effective preventative and early intervention for parents and their babies-in-waiting and babies. This very popular training gives you all you need to become a baby bonding practitioner; theory, practical skills, session framework, resources, pre- and post-outcome measures and access to a FREE online resource bank. This 2-day course is accredited by The CPD Standards Office UK and offers 12 CPD points towards professional registration requirements.

Please click below to book your place!

Accredited training courses coming up:

For courses taking place in the island of Ireland, please register your interest here

​

For courses taking place in England, Scotland and Wales, please register your interest here

​

For international courses, please register your interest here

"This is the best training course I have ever been on"
Play Therapist, UK

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baby bonding is a very gentle and effective preventative and early intervention for parents and their babies-in-waiting and babies. This very popular training gives you all you need to become a baby bonding practitioner; theory, practical skills, session framework, resources, pre- and post-outcome measures and access to a FREE online resource bank.

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We offer a range of regular group-based  case consultation sessions to several services in Manchester including:

Home-Start, NHS Talking Therapies (Perinatal Champions) & the Infant Feeding Team.

GM case consultation provision to the Mother and Baby Unit, Specialist Mental Health Midwives working across GM, family nurse partnership in Salford.

Alongside group consultation arrangements, we are very happy to respond to individual requests from anyone working with families with under 5’s (and antenatally) to talk through cases from a psychological perspective.

Case consultation provides a reflective space for those supporting families through pregnancy and during the early years to consider what might have contributed to families’ presenting difficulties, their strengths, and what might be helpful for them going forwards. Discussions draw upon psychological theories and models to inform thinking.  In addition, sessions provide an opportunity for individuals  to reflect on how they are affected by their work with families and what they bring to their work.

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Incredible Years® Introductory 3-day Training

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Incredible Years® Introductory 3-day Training

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CAPS offer the 3-day Incredible Years Basic Leader training (2-8 years)

The programme focuses on strengthening parenting skills and consists of components which build upon one another.

Strengthening Children’s Social Skills, Emotional Regulation and School Readiness Skills.

Using Praise and Incentives to Encourage Cooperative Behaviour.

Positive Discipline – Rules, Routines and Effective Limit Setting.

Positive Discipline – Handling Misbehaviour.

For more information about the 3-day training including dates, times, cost and venues please contact: amanda.sutcliffe@mft.nhs.uk or on 0161 529 6125.

For information on online training please see https://incredibleyears.com/workshop-info/training-workshop-schedule/

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We offer a range of teaching and training in addition to our Universal Training offer to professionals working across the Early Years sector and those who work with parents of pre-school children.

We also contribute to post graduate training programmes in IAPT and Clinical Psychology.

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This training is suitable for Outreach Teams, Creche providers, Early Years settings, Childminders, and schools.

Promoting young children’s language, social and emotional development, and school readiness.

Training is funded by Manchester City Council and is free of charge.
To apply to this training contact Joanne Singleton on

Email: joanne.singleton@mft.nhs.uk

Phone: 0161 529 6062 - Option 4

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"She cried non-stop from the day that she was born.  I found it hard to bond with her and I felt guilty... I've learned so much, and the course has made the bond between us better"

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"She cried non-stop from the day that she was born.  I found it hard to bond with her and I felt guilty... I've learned so much, and the course has made the bond between us better"

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Mum of 10-month-old and 3-year-old

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"It's a good course, more fathers should do it"

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"It's a good course, more fathers should do it"

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Dad of 10-month-old

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"His schooling is amazing now... it's been like heaven for our family!"

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"His schooling is amazing now... it's been like heaven for our family!"

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Mum of a 4-year-old

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"In foundation stage, we can see the impact this has on children; they are more likely to be toilet trained, more able to sit still and concentrate.  They tend to settle into school better.  Overall, they are more ready for learning"

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"In foundation stage, we can see the impact this has on children; they are more likely to be toilet trained, more able to sit still and concentrate.  They tend to settle into school better.  Overall, they are more ready for learning"

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Teacher from a Manchester primary school

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"I understand the importance of my baby's brain development now and I talk to her a lot more"

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"I understand the importance of my baby's brain development now and I talk to her a lot more"

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Mum of 11-month-old and 2-year-old

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"My son is like a different boy, he now sees me as a parent.  I have put in some clear boundaries and he understands them.  I now feel in control again and I actually like waking up in the morning"

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"My son is like a different boy, he now sees me as a parent.  I have put in some clear boundaries and he understands them.  I now feel in control again and I actually like waking up in the morning"

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Mum of a 4-year-old

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"The course has helped me become a better dad for my daughter, and I also feel better in myself"

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"The course has helped me become a better dad for my daughter, and I also feel better in myself"

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Dad of a 3-year-old

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"The programme has helped me to be calmer and taught me strategies to manage my son's behaviour"

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"The programme has helped me to be calmer and taught me strategies to manage my son's behaviour"

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Mum of a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old

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The Incredible Years® evidence based parenting programs focus on strengthening parenting competencies and fostering parent involvement in children’s school experiences, to promote children’s academic, social  and emotional skills and reduce conduct problems.

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Parents and Babies Program - Incredible Years

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For parents with babies ages birth to 12 months. In the Parents and Babies Program, parents learn how to: Help their babies feel loved, safe, and secure. Encourage their babies' physical and language development. The parenting group format fosters peer support networks and shared learning.

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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

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Homepage - Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

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We are the largest and busiest children's hospital in the UK with 371 paediatric beds. A further 60 neonatal cots also operate, within the same building, in the tertiary neonatal unit of Saint Mary's Hospital.

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Family Action believes that every child has the right to the best possible start in life and that every family should be supported to enable their children to reach their full potential.

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Family Action, Building stronger families

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Family Action is an award-winning national charity working from the heart of local communities across England and Wales. We’ve been supporting people through change, challenge and crisis for over 150 years.

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Big Life's mission is to change the world, but you can’t change the world if you work in the same old ways.

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Everything we do is driven by the need to help people change their lives, however small or large those changes might be. The Big Life group works differently, constantly challenging ourselves and others, and always led by our shared set of values.

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Sure Start Children's Centres offer activities and services for parents and children under 5 years.

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Monday to Friday: 8.45am - 4.30 pm

Lower Ground Floor, Medlock Primary School Wadeson Road Ardwick Manchester M13 9UJ

Darley Avenue Manchester M21 7JG

Monday to Friday 8.30 am - 4.00 pm

Teignmouth Avenue Manchester M40 7QD

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Monday to Friday: 8.45am - 4.30 pm Lower Ground Floor, Medlock Primary School Wadeson Road Ardwick Manchester M13 9UJ Darley Avenue Manchester M21 7JG Monday to Friday 8.30 am - 4.00 pm Teignmouth Avenue Manchester M40 7QD

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CAPS Referral Form - to be used for clinic, Pregnancy - 2 offer 2-5 group offer (excluding IY Pre-school)

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CAPS Referral Form - to be used for clinic, Pregnancy - 2 offer 2-5 group offer (excluding IY Pre-school)

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NORTH (based at the Bridge in Moston) – 0161 203 3262/3261

Email mft.northmanchestercaps@nhs.net

CENTRAL team (based at our North & South bases) - 0161 203 3260

Email mft.caps.central@nhs.net

SOUTH (based at the Carol Kendrick Centre in Wythenshawe) – 0161 529 6062 ext 4

Email Mft.southmanchestercamhs@nhs.net

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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) - Informed Formulation and Intervention

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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) - Informed Formulation and Intervention

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Supporting parents to manage their own stress, as well as co-relate their child's emotions and self soothing capabilities using CFT ideas.

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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) - Informed Formulation and Intervention

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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) - Informed Formulation and Intervention

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Support with separation anxiety, phobias and selective mutism using formulation driven approaches.

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EMDR (for the child - single incident traumas)

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EMDR (for the child - single incident traumas)

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Support for children following single incident trauma.

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VIG uses video to help you to understand and improve communication.

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Building attachment for security; especially helpful for parents who may have their own attachment related struggles.

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Circle of Security Parenting Group is an 8-week programme for children aged 4 months - 5 years. It aims to promote attachment security between parents and children, building the quality of parent/child relationships and is helpful in shaping attunement, sensitivity and containment for parents.

Our next South group will be run from May 2026, 10:00am-12:00pm on Thursdays at Baguley Children's Centre.

Our next Central/North group will run from May 2026, on Tuesdays 10:00am-12:00pm at Clayton Family hub

Before referral, we would ask that you have already completed a full assessment and that families can travel to Baguley and Sacred Heart and commit to the above dates.  In addition, it’s important that parents are willing to reflect on their own experiences of being parented, as this will help them to get the most value from the group.

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This is a workshop for parents who are experiencing difficulties with their child's feeding & eating

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This is a workshop for parents who are experiencing difficulties with their child’s feeding and eating. This may include ‘fussy eating’, where a child will only eat a small selection of foods and may be particular about different foods or brands of the same food. Parents may be finding it difficult to increase the variety of what their child is eating. For other parents variety is good but their child will only eat very small amounts. In either case, it can be very stressful and upsetting for parents when they feel their child is not eating enough or enough variety.

The workshop aims to help parents to understand the way feeding typically develops in children, what can impact on this ‘typical’ development and some of the reasons why children can develop difficulties with feeding and eating. The workshop also aims to equip parents with skills in understanding what might be going on for their child at mealtime as well as some strategies to try to improve their child’s eating.

The workshop meets for 4 main sessions, lasting 2 hours, with a 5th follow up session after a short break to review how things are going.

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Riding the Rapids - Pre-School Years (formerly Getting on Board) Ages 3-5

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Riding the Rapids - Pre-School Years (formerly Getting on Board) Ages 3-5

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A 10-week course aimed at helping parents of young children with social communication issues and/or development differences, support with understanding their child’s behaviour.  The courses are run locally within Sure Start Children’s Centres and other community venues.

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Riding the Rapids and wider group plan 25-26 revised V65 latest (003) (1)

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Being a parent is the hardest job in the world.  Lots of parents struggle with their child's behaviour at some time.  This course will help parents to develop the skills needed to be the best parent they can be.  This group runs for 14 weeks for parents of children aged from 2 years old up until their 5th birthday.

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Building attachment for security; especially helpful for parents who may have their own attachment related struggles.

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Circle of Security Parenting Group is an 8-week programme for children aged 4 months - 4 years.  It aims to promote attachment security between parents and children, building the quality of parent/child relationships and is helpful in shaping attunement, sensitivity and containment for parents.

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EMDR for trauma in the perinatal period: for parents who have experienced trauma in the perinatal period, including during pregnancy, birth, or postnatally, where this is impacting on the parent-child relationship.

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VIG uses video to help you to understand and improve communication with your child.

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What is Video Interaction Guidance? (VIG)

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Caring for a baby can be a hard which can lead to critical ways of thinking and being hard on ourselves.  

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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) - Informed 1-1 Work

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Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) - Informed 1-1 Work

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CFT encourages compassion towards us and others.  It aims to restore, or introduce, ideas of safety, compassion and reassurance by supporting a non-judgmental, empathic and kind way of thinking about ourselves, our difficulties and our internal self-criticism.

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See the world through your baby's eyes, using a Baby Bonding approach.