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Have any ideas to help us to further develop this padlet?

Is there anything you would like us to add or change?

Email us! gmicb-hmr.hmrpadletfeedback@nhs.net

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Information to support parents and carers of little ones under 5 years

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Information to support parents and carers of little ones under 5 years

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Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership

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New information to support parents and carers of little ones under 5

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NHS Greater Manchester launches new ‘Get to Know Where to Go’ leaflet to support parents and carers of little ones under 5

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Place hold for Common Childhood Illnesses Booklet - currently being refreshed

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Place hold for Common Childhood Illnesses Booklet - currently being refreshed

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The Royal Oldham Hospital Neonatal Padlet

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The Royal Oldham Hospital Neonatal Padlet

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Resources for families experiencing neonatal care.

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Supporting the whole family from admission to the neonatal unit and beyond.

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Spoons Charity - Neonatal Family Support

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Spoons Charity - Neonatal Family Support

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Spoons Charity offers support to families experiencing neonatal intensive care in the Greater Manchester area.

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I have been volunteering for PANDAS for just over a year. I joined as a Helpline volunteer after using the service myself when my wife had PND.

The service was absolutely amazing and after the call it got me thinking how, with my personal and professional experience, I could give back to a cause and charity that had offered me so much when I most needed it.

My wife has suffered PND with all of our three children and I have supported her through it each time so I know, firsthand, how much this issue can affect someone. In honestly, I think I too probably suffered with PND myself but without even realising it.

Professionally, working as a health clinician in the ambulance service, 1 have had countless encounters with patients with PND. I have also witnessed many cultural taboos around perinatal mental health. These insights and experience only make me more passionate about volunteering for PANDAS.

PANDAS is such a great platform to provide help and support to those that suffer or those who are supporting someone with perinatal mental health.

The charity is led by volunteers who all have their own shared-experience and we all have a common goal in helping those who are struggling.
Personally volunteering gives me a sense of fulfilment that I can help others like I have previously been helped. Community service is also an integral part of my faith and volunteering with PANDAS allows me to fulfill this religious duty.

If you have the skills, desire and capability then please volunteer for PANDAS, it's a great team with lots of opportunities for personal development, and you make a massive impact on people's lives when they need it most.

Male volunteers are really under-represented in this area, despite many men sufferring with PND or supporting their partner with it, so you will be hugely appreciated and welcomed if you join.

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I have been volunteering for PANDAS for just over a year. I joined as a Helpline volunteer after using the service myself when my wife had PND. The service was absolutely amazing and after the call it got me thinking how, with my personal and professional experience, I could give back to a cause and charity that had offered me so much when I most needed it.

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A variety of different support services available, all run by a trained team of PANDAS volunteers who are supervised by a team of support services managers.

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If you'd like support via WhatsApp

To use the service simply message 07903 508334 and you will be connected to one of our trained PANDAS volunteers.

It is free and confidential for users of this service and will be open from 8am - 10pm daily.

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How we can support you - PANDAS Foundation UK

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If you'd like support via WhatsApp To use the service simply message 07903 508334 and you will be connected to one of our trained PANDAS volunteers. It is free and confidential for users of this service and will be open from 8am - 10pm daily.

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You're online guide to early pregnancy in Greater Manchester

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It’s important to book an appointment with your midwife as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. They can talk to you about important screening tests.

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Baby Sleep Tips:  Self Soothing or Self Settling

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Baby Sleep Tips:  Self Soothing or Self Settling

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Baby Sleep Tips:  Helping to self settle

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Baby Sleep Tips:  Helping to self settle

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Baby Sleep Tips:  Co-sleeping/bed sharing

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Baby Sleep Tips:  Co-sleeping/bed sharing

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The NBO is designed to help you and your health practitioner together observe all your baby’s capabilities and the ways they are communicating with you.

You may have heard about these tools or been offered a session by your health visitor.

Here is a short video about what to expect and what is involved.

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Anya - App to help parents overcome feeding challenges.  

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Anya - App to help parents overcome feeding challenges.  

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Free to download for parents in Greater Manchester. Anya is a one-of-a-kind app; founded by a mum who faced challenges on her own breastfeeding journey. The same, very real challenges that we all face as parents. This is what sets Anya apart from the rest - it's designed with empathy.

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Anya is here 24/7 for your parenting & breastfeeding questions. Even at 3am. Free Premium upgrade for all parents in Knowsley.

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Start for life services in Rochdale that will support parents and professionals during the 1001 critical days to offer support and advice.

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Our Rochdale | Rochdale’s Start for Life offer

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The first two years of a child’s life is the most important period for developing communication and physical skills. We believe that every child has the right to the ‘best start in life’ and this starts during pre-conception, pregnancy and the early years. By the…

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Family hubs provide a single access point to integrated family support services for early help with social, emotional, physical and financial needs. Each family hub is bespoke to its local community while incorporating three key delivery principles: access, connection and relationships.

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Family hubs provide a single access point to integrated family support services for early help with social, emotional, physical and financial needs. Each family hub is bespoke to its local community while incorporating three key delivery principles: access, connection and relationships.

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Rochdale's Best Start for Life Infant Feeding

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Rochdale's Best Start for Life Infant Feeding

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The community infant feeding team delivers a service funded by the start for life programme to provide infant feeding support in addition to services that are provided by midwives, health visitors and Family Hubs, which are already available throughout Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

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Family Hubs helps to ensure that babies, children and families have the support they need, when it is needed. They offer high-quality support for families from conception to the age or 19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).

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Our Rochdale | Family Hubs and Start for Life

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Family Hubs helps to ensure that babies, children and families have the support they need, when it is needed. They offer high-quality support for families from conception to the age or 19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities). Family hubs…

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One of the world’s leading online resources for expert-led, evidence-based parental advice. All baby care advice is supported by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health and follows expert advice from the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.

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We are one of the world’s leading online resources for expert-led, evidence-based parental advice. All our baby care advice is supported by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health and follows expert advice from the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.

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Incredible Years Baby - Parenting & Family Relationships Programmes

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Incredible Years Baby - Parenting & Family Relationships Programmes

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Programmes offering group support, advice and guidance to parents and carers living in Rochdale to support healthy and respectful family relationships.

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Our Rochdale | Parenting & Family Relationships Programmes

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Our programmes provide group support, advice and guidance to parents and carers living in Rochdale to support healthy and respectful family relationships. They are a great way to help understand different behaviours and development stages of your baby, child or teenager and understand the importance…

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Support for parents who have experienced a birth trauma.

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"I was broken after the birth of my son. My journey to healing started after finding the BTA. It was the first time I felt hope that I would get better, and that I wasn't alone."

- BTA Facebook group member, 2023

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BTA is the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth. We work to support parents and families, improve parents' experience of birth, and engage with health professionals and research.

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Parent Infant Mental Health refers to both the baby’s and the parents’ mental health and the relationship between them.  In Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale we believe in the importance of giving equal attention to the parent, the baby and the parent-infant relationship.

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Proud 2 b Parents is an inclusive organisation for all routes to parenthood.

The service is run by and delivered for LGBT+ parents / carers to be, LGBT+ parents / carers and their children living in Greater Manchester (and the North West).

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Proud 2 b Parents is an inclusive organisation for all routes to parenthood. We are run by and deliver services for LGBT+ parents/ carers to be , LGBT+ parents/ carers and their children living in Greater Manchester.

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Pregnancy in Mind is a preventative mental-health service designed to support parents-to-be who are at risk of, or currently experiencing, mild to moderate anxiety and depression during their pregnancy.

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Introduction

Supporting parents' mental health during pregnancy

Pregnancy in Mind is a preventative mental health service designed to support parents who are at risk of or experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression during pregnancy.

It is an antenatal group intervention delivered by professionals during the middle trimester of pregnancy. Parents-to-be are able to attend the programme between 12 and 28 weeks gestation.

How it works

How Pregnancy in Mind works

Pregnancy in Mind aims to protect against the impact of parental anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Through building relationships, knowledge and skills, it helps parents to manage any difficulties they are experiencing.

The ultimate objective of this service is to build parents' capacity to provide sensitive, responsive care to their babies - and help parents keep these new skills up postnatally and as their children develop.

Themes

The programme is underpinned by six core evidence-based themes:

mindfulness meditation

active relaxation

psychoeducation and coping skills

social support

awareness-raising of foetal development

couple and co-parenting relationship (communication and conflict management).

Evidence base

The evidence base

Research has shown that a significant proportion of women experience anxiety or depression in the perinatal period (O'Hara and Wisner, 2014; Hogg, 2013). Partners of pregnant women also suffer from mental health problems during this period such as depression and anxiety disorders (Paulson and Bazemore, 2010; Leach et al, 2016).

Parental mental illness during pregnancy can have a lasting effect on some children. Stress chemicals produced by women suffering from depression or anxiety can affect their unborn child's development. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy can also increase the risk of postnatal depression, making it harder for parents to provide warm and responsive care after the baby is born.

It's important to identify parents who are at risk early, and ensure they get the support they need. Unfortunately, research shows that perinatal anxiety and depression regularly go undetected. When symptoms are identified, parents often struggle to access the treatment they need.

Services often focus solely on the women's symptoms, without addressing the impact on their developing relationships with their babies. The mental health of fathers or partners can be over looked, despite the important role they play in mothers' and babies' lives.

To make sure we were meeting families' needs, in both the design and development of Pregnancy in Mind we used a co-operative approach involving:

parents

practitioners

service managers

commissioners and academics.

References

O'Hara, M.W. and Wisner, K.L. (2014) Hogg, S. (2013) Paulson, J.F. and Bazemore, S.D. (2010) Leach, L.S. et al. (2016) Perinatal mental illness: Definition, description and aetiology. Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, pp. 28(1): 3-12.
Prevention in mind: all babies count: spotlight on perinatal mental health. London: NSPCC.
Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers and its association with maternal depression: a meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association, pp. 303(19): 1961-1969.
Prevalence and course of anxiety disorders (and symptom levels) in men across the perinatal period: a systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, pp. 190: 675-86.

Who it is for

Who is Pregnancy in Mind for?

Pregnancy in Mind is for new parents between 12 and 28 weeks gestation (the middle trimester of pregnancy). Parents can be referred at any point in their early pregnancy, but access to the group work will need to be in the middle trimester period.

The programme is for those who are at risk of or already experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Parents do not have to have a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression, and this can be based on either parent-report or professional judgement.

As we are keen to provide the service to those that are not yet experiencing symptoms but might be at increased risk, we are also interested in receiving referrals for parents who:

have a previous history of anxiety or depression

have a family history of mental health problems

have a history of childhood adversity and poor parenting themselves

are socially isolated or have no social support networks

have experienced recent adverse or stressful life events

are experiencing poor relationship quality or domestic violence

are under 20 years of age

are having an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy

have drug or alcohol problems (misuse substances).

Making a referral

To make a referral to Pregnancy in Mind, get in touch with one of the service centres offering this service

Pregnancy in Mind locations

Where the NSPCC is delivering Pregnancy in Mind:
> Find contact details for all our service centres on the NSPCC website

Evaluation

Evaluation of Pregnancy in Mind

We want to learn if Pregnancy in Mind improves:

levels of depression and anxiety

quality of relationship between partners

parents' relationship with the unborn baby.

How we're evaluating this service

We're evaluating Pregnancy in Mind using both qualitative and quantitative data through three phases. This will allow us to explore the overall experience of the practitioners and families taking part in the service, as well as measure its effect on parental mental health and relationships.

Phase 1: formative evaluation

A formative evaluation of the programme was carried out in 2015/16. It assessed the feasibility of implementing Pregnancy in Mind in its early days and how parents responded. Findings were shared with the programme team and the programme model adapted accordingly.

Phase 2: process evaluation

This evaluation focused on the implementation of the new model, identifying what worked in successful delivery, how parents and referrers viewed the updated model, and whether parents' outcomes and experiences supported the underlying theory of change.
> Read the process evaluation report
Phase 3: effectiveness testing

In 2021, we hope that an impact or outcomes study will help us determine the effectiveness of Pregnancy in Mind in achieving its desired outcomes for parents. During this phase, validated and reliable questionnaires will be given to parents when they start and finish the programme. Statistical analyses of scores will then explore whether there are changes and what might affect these.

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Introduction Pregnancy in Mind is a preventative mental health service designed to support parents who are at risk of or experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression during pregnancy. It is an antenatal group intervention delivered by professionals during the middle trimester of pregnancy.

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We have adapted our services so we can continue to deliver mental health support to the community of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood as best we can please click here for the latest information. We also have information to help support your wellbeing.
Latest information
We exist to ensure that people do not face mental health issues alone and can lead their lives free from stigma and discrimination.
Over 90% of the people who contact us do so to ask for help with depression, anxiety and stress. Over 130 clients contact each month.

Please click on the pictures below to access more help and information on these issues

Wellbeing Directory

Search our Wellbeing Directory for Services in and around the district of Rochdale Find out more

Elefriends

Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, but now there's a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Find out more

Information Line

Rochdale and District Mind operate a confidential mental health telephone information line: Please telephone our freephone number 0800 107 0729 or 01706 752338 Find out more

Latest Updates

Follow Rochdale and District Mind on your favourite social network

Facebook

We have adapted our group support. If you, or someone you know would like to join one of our groups please get in touch ... #togetherrochdale See More See Less #NeverMoreNeeded
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Our free & confidential telephone counselling is open & accepting new referrals. We currently have a very short waiting list. If you are experiencing feelings of panic, anxiety, stress, depression, or low self-esteem please contact us ... www.rochdalemind.org.uk/how-we-can-help/how-to-refer/ or call us on 01706 752 338 #TogetherRochdale See More See Less
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Mind believes Black Lives Matter. In mental health there is a huge disparity in how black people are listened to and supported at every level. ...
See More See Less
Black people are four times more likely to be detained, and more likely to be restrained and isolated under the outdated Mental Health Act. This weekend marks 18 months since the Mental Health Act review - and we are still waiting for the UK Government to make vital changes.

At Mind, we have campaigned alongside the most marginalised and discriminated against. We also recognise the white privilege inherent in our own organisation and we are committed to addressing this.

We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We know there is a lot of work to do and we will fight for everyone.
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It's ... #VolunteerWeek and we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our volunteers. We couldn't deliver our vital services across #Rochdale #Middleton and #Heywood without your support See More See Less #NeverMoreNeeded
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It's important to look out for one another, please check in with others, in a safe way, and if anyone is struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, please contact us. Our self-referral form is here: ... www.rochdalemind.org.uk/refer & Information Line 01706 752 338 See More See Less
Photo

Twitter

We have adapted our group support. If you, or someone you know would like to join one of our groups please get in touch #TogetherRochdale #NeverMoreNeeded
4

25 volunteers a week @ soup kitchen @ 2hours each x 52 weeks a year = 2400 hours voluntary hours given. Wow grateful for our teams efforts & dedication to help the helpless during difficult times. Life goes on and we continue our work. Thankyou 👏🏻#ArmyofKindness #VolunteersWeek

Our free & confidential telephone counselling is accepting new referrals and currently has a short waiting list. If you're experiencing feelings of panic, anxiety, stress, depression, or low self-esteem please contact us https://t.co/5I2yINCJKA or 01706 752 338 #TogetherRochdale

A selection of our 1 hour workshops are now online and available to watch if anyone would like to refresh information about Stress, Sleep, Confidence and the 5 ways to Well-being. Find the online courses on our YouTube page here: https://t.co/oYA7xidZhy #HomeLearning #WellBeing

It's #VolunteerWeek and we'd like to thank @Joe_s_b who volunteered his time by running an incredible 100 miles in May raising £925 along the way! We are truly grateful to you.
There's still time to donate too! https://t.co/mJOwRVZVta #NeverMoreNeeded #Fundraising

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Rochdale and District Mind | For better mental health

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We have adapted our services so we can continue to deliver mental health support to the community of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood as best we can please click here for the latest information. We also have information to help support your wellbeing.

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With online therapy, you can gain instant access to a range of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programmes that can help you work on anxiety, low mood and stress.

You will be supported throughout the programme by one of our practitioners who will provide guidance and tailor the online therapy to meet your needs.

SilverCloud

We provide access to SilverCloud - an informative online therapy programme proven to help with stress, anxiety, low mood, and depression.

Flexible, use it anytime, anyplace, anywhere...

Whether at home, work or elsewhere. On a computer, tablet or on a mobile phone. Work flexibly at a steady pace.

State of the art technology...

Includes easy to follow programmes with:

Video clips

Interactive quizzes

A journal

Audio-guided mindfulness exercises

Reflective exercises... and more

Accessible and easy to use...

You work independently with guidance from one of our practitioners who will offer regular online reviews. The programmes consists of evidence-based interventions including; activities and concepts from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy all recognised to have a positive impact on low mood and anxiety.

How do I access?
Click here to make a referral for online therapy.

We offer a range of group workshops that can provide you with skills and techniques to manage how you are feeling in the 'here and now'. They will help you learn how to manage emotions and negative thoughts, which will have a positive impact on your life.

Long term condition group

This is a 6 session workshop - each session lasts around 90 minutes. It is a group for people who experience long-term health conditions such as: diabetes, COPD, pain, heart disease etc. Sessions focus on improving mental health which can in turn alleviate symptoms of chronic condition.

For example, for someone whose physical health condition is worsened with stress (e.g. IBS), looking at ways of reducing that stress can be beneficial. Please note that the groups do not focus directly on physical health problems such as pain management.

Perinatal Group (Blossoms)

This is a group for pregnant women or perinatal mums, dads or carers of babies who are under 24 months old who are also experiencing depression, anxiety and or feel they may be having difficulty bonding with their baby and/or feel they are struggling with adjustment to pregnancy or parenthood.

The group covers issues around becoming a parent, babies development and CBT-based strategies for anxiety and depression. The group is currently running via zoom and is 6 sessions (1.5 hours each session) and babies are welcome to attend the group.
Click here to make a referral.

All of the therapies we offer are recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). Our one to one therapies can be offered over the phone, via video call or in person at a community venue.

Guided Self Help

Guided self-help is a brief therapy based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It can support people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties, such as low mood, anxiety, and stress. Your sessions may be weekly or fortnightly and you will usually have around 6 sessions with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.
Click here to make a referral.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

CBT is recommended by NICE for depression and a range of anxiety related difficulties. It can help you to understand how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours may be linked to your problems and can help to identify the changes which could be made to improve your mood. It is a structured, practical talking therapy which focuses on goals and making changes using a variety of evidenced based techniques.
Click here to make a referral.
Counselling

Counselling can help you identify and understand your problems, express your feelings, gain a deeper insight into your issues and develop your own resources to build emotional resilience. You'll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a counsellor who'll listen and support you without judging or criticising. The counsellor can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, and find your own solutions to problems. But they will not usually give advice or tell you what to do.
Click here to make a referral.
Couples counselling for depression

Counselling for couples helps people suffering from depression by using the relationship as a resource to help support the individual and their partner. It improves the relationship by helping you both to work together on the things that create unhappiness and to move on from a stuck and sometimes hostile patterns of interaction. It helps you to understand each other at an emotional level as well as a practical one. It gives you skills as well as understanding. This can lead to a happier and more fulfilling relationship in which differences between you are not so problematic. This relieves depression which in turn improves your relationship. This positive cycle improves mood and emotional wellbeing.
Click here to make a referral.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing)

EMDR is used to help people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who have PTSD may experience intrusive thoughts, memories, nightmares or flashbacks of traumatic events in their past. EMDR helps the brain reprocess memories of the traumatic event which helps reduce symptoms and allows the person to move on from the traumatic experience.
Click here to make a referral.
Peri-natal

We offer a specialist peri-natal service to support parents, carers, adoptive parents, or anyone who is the main carer/carers for an infant from 0-2 years of age. This also includes parents who are pregnant. Referrals can be made for many reasons, including feeling anxious and experiencing low mood.

During the peri-natal period, this may translate into not wanting to be around, or alone with the baby, feeling like you're getting it wrong, feeling worthless as a parent, feeling like the baby belongs to someone else, feeling the baby will only settle for other people, not being able to stop thinking about the birth, or if pregnant, feeling terrified of the birth.

Home visits are undertaken by our specialist in peri-natal and infant mental health, where much of the support is done within the parents' home, or in children's centres.
Click here to make a referral.

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing our attention, in a friendly way, to the experience of the present moment. It is also about relating to ourselves with kindness.

Research shows that Mindfulness can

Reduce psychological stress

Help with managing chronic pain

Help us live more fully in the present

Increase ability to reduce worry and rumination

Enhance our ability to respond rather than react

What does the programme involve?

The programme is designed for a small group of 10-15 people. It consists of 8 x 2-hour weekly classes delivered online or face to face. Daily home practice is also part of the programme.

The course includes:

Guided instruction in mindful meditation

Guided gentle physical stretching

Group discussion about mindfulness practices

Daily home practice

CDs or downloads of guided practice and a workbook, for daily home practice

Is this the right course for me, right now?

Research shows that practicing mindfulness has many benefits, but it is not a "quick fix". It is important to know that you are in the position to set aside time for the weekly class and daily home practice. The course is not suitable for those currently severely depressed, or experiencing significant upheaval of any kind. For example, if you have a current drug/alcohol problem, are accessing another therapeutic service at present, or have experienced a recent bereavement or trauma then it is best not to start MBCT H&W just at the moment.

Mindfulness teachers

The course is facilitated by experienced mindfulness teachers, who teach mindfulness in line with current UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teachers Good Practice Guidelines and aim to create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere for learning.

Next Steps

If you are interested in attending the 8-week MBCT course, you can self-refer on line at https://iaptportal.co.uk/roch.html and put MBCT under the reason for self-referral.

Alternatively, you can telephone NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Talking Therapies on 01706 751 180 and give your details over the phone, requesting the mindfulness programme.

Each applicant for MBCT will have an assessment with a course teacher, to learn more about the course and to help decide whether it is for them at this time.

Gaddum is also a part of the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Talking Therapies pathway in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. They offer a service called Getting Help, which provides support to help people overcome barriers in meeting health and social care needs that are impacting on their wellbeing and mental health. The team works with people to:

Address unmet health and social care needs

Build resilience

Enhance independence

They offer support to individuals whose low mood/anxiety is primarily being caused by:

Debt and finances

Loneliness and isolation

Homelessness, housing or living situation

Drugs and alcohol

Their role as carer

We work with five partner organisations, to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of our clients. Our partners all have established links within the community and provide support tailored to their service users. These are:

Petrus: Housing, benefits, homelessness, PIP advice groups, as well as providing access to showers, means and washing facilities.

Rochdale Connections Trust: Domestic Violence.

Rochdale Women's Welfare Association: Classes, advice, groups and domestic violence support for the BAME community.

Recovery Republic: Holistic support for substance misuse, courses, groups, debt and benefits advice.

The Proud Trust: Support and groups for the LGBTQ+ community.

We work with people to co-create support plans which allow them to meet their short and long term goals, and address any barriers which may be preventing them from addressing their unmet health and social care needs.

This is done through 1-1 contact with an assigned key worker, where the person may be signposted onto other services, community organisations or groups. The support sessions are tailored to the needs of the individual, where contacts can be in person or over the telephone; and weekly or spread out over a longer period of time. Usually our intervention lasts about 6 contacts, but we will work with the individual to create a support plan which will aid them beyond our involvement.

Getting Help is a part of the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Talking Therapies partnership, so referrals can be made into the central service and will be allocated to the most suitable part of the pathway, which could be Getting Help or the mental health pathway provided by Big Life or Pennine Care.
Click here for more information about the Getting Help service with Gaddum.

Please note, we are not an emergency or crisis service.

If you feel at risk of harm to yourself or others or your mental health is getting worse, you can:

contact your GP and ask for an urgent appointment

go to your local hospital or call 999

call NHS on 111 (open 24 hours a day)

Other services mental health crisis services

Pennine Care NHS 24/7 crisis mental health helpline: is free to call and open to anybody in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. Call 0800 014 9995.

Samaritans: call 01706 86 86 86 (local call charges apply), National telephone 116 123 (this number is free to call), email jo@samaritans.org (UK and ROI) or visit Samaritans Manchester 5 Caton Street, Rochdale Manchester, OL16 1QJ.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): - for men day. Call 0800 58 58 58 - 5pm to midnight everyday.

The Silver Line: for older people (aged 55 and over). Call 0800 470 8090.

Papyrus: Confidential suicide prevention advice for young people and adults up to 35 years of age. Hopeline staffed by counsellors and mental health practitioners. Call 0800 068 4141, 10am - 10pm Monday to Friday and from 12pm - 10pm at the weekend.

Need extra support?

Therapy might not be suitable or necessary for everyone, which is why we have teamed up with some other local services to be able to offer different levels of support whatever your needs and requirements.

Want support with making lifestyle changes? Get in touch with Living Well for support when living and feeling well feels too tough to tackle alone.

We also work closely with Rochdale MIND, who offer lots of mental health support and activities. They also help run some of our groups.

Click here to refer someone.

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

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With online therapy, you can gain instant access to a range of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programmes that can help you work on anxiety, low mood and stress. You will be supported throughout the programme by one of our practitioners who will provide guidance and tailor the online therapy to meet your needs.

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Supporting and advocating for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP) - a severe but treatable mental illness that begins in the days and weeks after giving birth.

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The charity for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis

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Supporting and advocating for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP) - a severe but treatable mental illness that begins in the days and weeks after giving birth.

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Open House - Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)

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Open House - Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)

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Are you a parent to be or have a child aged under two years?

There are drop in sessions available through our family hubs for support with you and your infant’s mental health. You may be feeling anxious or low and need to talk to someone, are worried about your bond with child, or perhaps you are having support from another service but feel a supportive group would also help. Click on the link to find out when you can drop into 'Open House'.

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Our Rochdale | Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)

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Rochdale’s start for life offer includes support for perinatal and for parent infant mental health. This support comes from professionals within our perinatal and infant mental health services team, including a specialist health visitor, a PIMHS early years worker, a psychotherapist and two parent infant mental health practitioners. The service is accessible at the point of contact through attending your local family hub or through speaking to your health visitor.

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Rochdale Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)

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Rochdale Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)

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Rochdale’s start for life offer includes support for perinatal and for parent infant mental health. This support comes from professionals within our perinatal and infant mental health services team, including a specialist health visitor, a PIMHS early years worker, a psychotherapist and two parent infant mental health practitioners.

The service is accessible at the point of contact through attending your local family hub or through speaking to your health visitor

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Our Rochdale | Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services (PIMHS)

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Rochdale’s start for life offer includes support for perinatal and for parent infant mental health. This support comes from professionals within our perinatal and infant mental health services team, including a specialist health visitor, a PIMHS early years worker, a psychotherapist and two parent infant mental health practitioners. The service is accessible at the point of contact through attending your local family hub or through speaking to your health visitor.

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Royal Oldham and Rochdale Maternity Services Padlet

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Royal Oldham and Rochdale Maternity Services Padlet

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If you need to talk to someone right now, please see this link for further telephone/text services.

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Our 24/7 crisis mental health helpline is here to support anybody in (all ages): If there's an immediate risk of danger to life, you should ring 999. More info about our helpline Our helpline is for people of all ages who are experiencing increased mental health needs.

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Spoons Charity - Neonatal Family Support

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Spoons Charity - Neonatal Family Support

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Spoons Charity offers support to families experiencing neonatal intensive care in the Greater Manchester area.

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Sands supports anyone who has been affected by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth.

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Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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Sands supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. Bereavement support is at the core of everything we do.

Sands is here to help you choose the right support for you. Some of the services that we offer include a Helpline for parents, families, carers and health professionals; a UK-wide network of support groups with trained befrienders; an online Facebook support group; a Sands online message board enabling bereaved families to connect with others and a wide range of leaflets, books and other resources available online and in print.

Although we don't offer counselling, our Helpline can help you find what is available in your area and help you request a referral from your GP.

Our free to call Helpline

The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby. Whether your baby died long ago or recently, we are here for you.

The telephone helpline is free to call from landlines and mobiles on 0808 164 3332.
Helpline calls are answered by trained bereavement support staff. If counselling is needed we recommend you seek support via your GP who can help you with a referral to your local team.
Language interpreters can be accessed via Language Line. If you are ringing to request support for for a non-English speaker please ring our Helpline and our staff will be happy to help.

The helpline team can also be contacted at helpline@sands.org.uk
Find out about more about our Helpline here
In 2017-18

The Sands Bereavement Support app

The Sands Bereavement Support app was created for anyone who has experienced the death of a baby.

It aims to help bereaved parents and families to find the right information and support at the right time. The app can also be used by healthcare professionals, who would like to know how best to support bereaved parents and their families.
Find out more about the App and how you can download here
Our Sands Groups

Many parents feel that only others who have experienced the death of a baby can offer real understanding. Our countrywide network of over 104 local support Groups, usually run by bereaved parents and family members, offer you the chance to meet others, gain support and share your experience.

Most Sands Groups offer either regular support meetings, telephone support or email support.

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Support for you | Sands - Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

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Sands supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth. Bereavement support is at the core of everything we do.

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Greater Manchester Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS)

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Greater Manchester Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS)

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PETALS is a therapeutic service for those struggling as a direct result of their maternity, neonatal or reproductive journey

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Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS)

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PETALS is a therapeutic service for those struggling as a direct result of their maternity, neonatal or reproductive journey. We are a small team of Clinical Psychologists, Psychological Therapists, Assistant Psychologists, and Specialist Midwives covering the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. This includes people who reside in Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Bury, Bolton and Wigan.

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Greater Manchester Specialist Perinatal Service (Community)

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Greater Manchester Specialist Perinatal Service (Community)

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This is a service for women experiencing moderate-severe mental health problems in the perinatal period, and for those with a past or family history of moderate to severe mental health difficulties

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Community Services

Perinatal Community Mental Health Team across Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust are the new provider for the Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) across Greater Manchester.

The Specialist Perinatal CMHT has been invested in as part of the NHS England Perinatal Mental Health Community Services Development Fund and funding was awarded to Greater Manchester through the Health and Social Care Mental Health Programme.

The Specialist Perinatal CMHT is commissioned to support women who experience high-risk mental health problems during and after pregnancy, and for their infant up to the age of one year.

The team will work to provide assessment, care and treatment including; the prevention, detection and management of maternal mental health problems that complicate pregnancy and the postpartum year. Poorly managed, perinatal mental health problems can have serious consequences for the mother, her infant and other family members. Perinatal mental health problems affect at least 1 in 5 women, with 3-5% of women experiencing a serious psychiatric disorder and the single greatest indirect cause for UK maternal deaths in the perinatal period.

Examples of these illnesses include antenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum psychosis

The team will have a shared care ethos and work closely across Greater Manchester with all Maternity Services, Adult Mental Health Services, Early Years Services, Primary Care, IAPT Services and independent sector organisations to ensure that all health professionals have access to specialist advice and guidance on supporting all women with mental health needs throughout the perinatal period; support to women already using secondary mental health services where psychiatric disorder predates pregnancy, and is expected to continue beyond, plus new referrals of perinatal presentations.

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Community Services Perinatal Community Mental Health Team across Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust are the new provider for the Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) across Greater Manchester.

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Maternity Services :: Northern Care Alliance

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This page provides information about maternity services across the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

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Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Early Attachment Service Leaflet

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Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Early Attachment Service Leaflet

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When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask. This website offers lots of information when your baby's cries become overwhelming.

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Becoming a Dad:  A guide for new fathers

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Becoming a Dad:  A guide for new fathers

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All babies cry, and some more than others. Crying is your baby's way of telling you they need comfort and care.
Sometimes it's easy to work out what they want, and sometimes it's not.

The most common reasons for crying are:

hunger

a dirty or wet nappy

tiredness

wanting a cuddle

wind

being too hot or too cold

boredom

overstimulation

There may be times of the day when your baby tends to cry a lot and cannot be comforted. Early evening is the most common time for this to happen.

This can be hard for you, as it's often the time when you're most tired and least able to cope.

The amount babies cry tends to peak when they're around 4 to 8 weeks old, then gradually tail off.

How to calm a crying baby

Try some of the following ways to comfort your baby. Some may work better than others:

If you're breastfeeding, let your baby suckle at your breast.

Having some gentle noise in the background may help distract your baby.

Some older babies like to use a bit of cloth or a blanket as a comforter.

Hold your baby or put them in a sling so they're close to you. Move about gently, sway and dance, talk to them and sing.

Rock your baby backwards and forwards in the pram, or go out for a walk or a drive. But limit how long your baby sleeps in a car seat to up to 30 minutes for newborns and up to 2 hours for babies. Even if they wake up again when you stop, at least you'll have had a break.

Find something for them to listen to or look at. This could be music on the radio, a CD, a rattle, or a mobile above the cot.

Try stroking your baby's back firmly and rhythmically, holding them against you or lying face downwards on your lap.

Undress your baby and massage them gently and firmly. Avoid using any oils or lotions until your baby's at least a month old. Talk soothingly as you do it and keep the room warm enough. Some health centres and clinics run baby massage courses. For information, ask your midwife or health visitor.

Try a warm bath. This calms some babies instantly, but makes others cry even more.

Sometimes too much rocking and singing can keep your baby awake. You might find lying them down after a feed will help.

Ask your health visitor for advice.

Crying during feeds

Some babies cry and seem unsettled around the time of a feed. If you're breastfeeding, you may find that improving your baby's positioning and attachment helps them settle.

You can go to a breastfeeding drop-in group and ask for help if there's one available in your local area.

The Breastfeeding Network's website can provide information on the nearest group to you.

You can also ask your health visitor for advice.

Crying during feeds can sometimes be a symptom of reflux, a common condition where babies bring back milk after feeds.

Speak to your health visitor or GP for more information and advice.

If your baby cries constantly

There are several reasons that can cause a baby to cry excessively.

It can be exhausting if you have tried everything and nothing seems to comfort your baby.

Colic

Excessive crying could be a sign that your baby has colic. Everyone agrees that colic exists, but nobody knows what causes it.

Some doctors think it's a kind of stomach cramp. The crying sounds miserable and distressed, and stops for a moment or two, then starts up again, which suggests it could be caused by waves of stomach pain.

The crying can go on for some hours. There may be little you can do except try to comfort your baby and wait for the crying to pass.
Get tips for coping with colic
Crying and illness

If your baby's crying constantly and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry, it can be a sign they're ill.

Or they may be ill if they're crying and have other symptoms, such as a high temperature. If this is the case, contact your health visitor, GP or call NHS 111.

Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

has a fit (seizure or convulsion)

has blue, mottled, ashen (grey) or very pale skin

is unresponsive, floppy or not waking up as easily as usual

breathes rapidly or makes a throaty noise while breathing, or seems to be working hard to breathe, perhaps sucking in their stomach under their ribcage

is being violently sick a lot (projectile vomiting)

has a high temperature, but their hands and feet feel cold

has a spotty purple-red rash anywhere on the body - this could be a sign of meningitis

Find out the signs of serious illness in your baby
Trust your instincts. You know what's different or worrying behaviour in your baby.

Getting help with a crying baby

You can talk to a friend, your health visitor or GP, or contact the Cry-sis helpline free on 0800 448 0737. It is open 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

Cry-sis can put you in touch with other parents who have been in the same situation.

You can also visit the Cry-sis website for information on coping with crying babies.

If you decide to talk to your health visitor or GP, it can help to keep a record of how often and when your baby cries.

For example, this might be after every feed or during the evening. This can help your health visitor or GP to work out if there's a particular cause for the crying.

Keeping a record can also help you identify the times when you need extra support. You could think about possible changes to your routine.

There may be times when you're so tired and angry you feel like you cannot take any more. This happens to a lot of parents, so do not be ashamed to ask for help.

If you do not have anyone who can take care of your baby for a short time and the crying is making you stressed, put your baby in their cot or pram, make sure they're safe, close the door, go into another room and try to calm yourself down.

Set a time limit - for example, 10 minutes - then go back.

Never shake your baby

No matter how frustrated you feel, you must never shake your baby. Shaking moves their head violently and can cause brain damage.

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A crying baby can be exhausting and it can be hard to know what they need, especially in the early days. Use these tips to help soothe them.

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Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! The long wait is over and it is finally time to meet face to face.

We are here to support you in these first few weeks as you get to know your baby and enjoy this very special relationship. Find out more about your baby's special language, our newborn behaviour sessions and our workshops below.

Scroll Down

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Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! The long wait is over and it is finally time to meet face to face. We are here to support you in these first few weeks as you get to know your baby and enjoy this very special relationship.

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Who we are

In 1981 a small group of parents, who were experiencing problems with their crying and sleepless babies, set up a support group. They discovered how important support is and how reassuring it can be to talk to someone. Today that support group has become Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. From modest beginnings Cry-sis has become a well-respected national charity which:

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Support For Crying And Sleepless Babies | Cry-sis

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Cry-sis, the only UK charity offering help and support to parents with babies who cry excessively or have sleeping problems. Call the helpline now...

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Overview

Getting to Know Your Baby videos have been designed to help parents, caregivers, and health professionals to know how to support the development of a baby's emotional wellbeing. See categories for more videos:
To view all videos click here
Introduction & Why Bonding matters

The process of 'bonding' refers to the intense emotional connection that takes place between a mother and a baby.
To view this category click here
Bonding Before Birth

Babies' emotional health and wellbeing begin before they are born, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
To view this category click here
Baby States

Baby states are essentially key patterns of behaviour that are easy to recognise in new babies, and can help parents to both tune-in to their baby, and to understand his or her experiences. Once parents are able to recognise these patterns, it becomes much easier to identify what their baby's needs are. Introduce expectant parents to Baby States and encourage them to notice sleep/wake states with friends' babies. Helping parents to understand baby sleep/wake states is a good way of encouraging them to get to know their baby. AiMH UK has produced an information sheet for members; Where baby states research comes from and why it's useful.
To view this category click here
Early Interactions

These videos show that encouraging parents to carefully observe their baby's sleep/wake states and notice their cues will help them get to know how best to respond to their baby.
To view this category click here
Sleeping & Soothing

Observing baby sleep / wake states will help parents get to know their own baby's individual likes and dislikes. This will help them tune in to the particular ways that their baby likes to be soothed. This might be a particular cuddle, lullaby or just being held calmly in their parent's arms. Babies often show a preference for sucking their fingers or thumb or attach to a comfort object such as a cloth or toy.
To view this category click here

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Getting to Know Your Baby videos have been designed to help parents, caregivers, and health professionals to know how to support the development of a baby's emotional wellbeing. See categories for more videos: To view all videos click here The process of 'bonding' refers to the intense emotional connection that takes place between a mother and a baby.

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Attachment and Bonding - Your Baby and You

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Attachment and Bonding - Your Baby and You

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manchester perinatal videos - Bing video

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Greater Manchester Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health Services

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Entering the neonatal unit for the first time

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manchester perinatal videos - Bing video

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Greater Manchester Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health Services

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manchester perinatal videos - Bing video

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Learning about your baby (part 1) - Your Baby and You

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manchester perinatal videos - Bing video

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Greater Manchester Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health Services

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Baby Watching:  Making sense of your baby

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Baby Watching:  Making sense of your baby

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Getting to know your baby

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What happens once your new baby arrives.

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manchester perinatal videos - Bing video

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Learning about your baby (part 2) - Your Baby and You

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During pregnancy and over those first two years. Your baby is very busy learning about you and the world. During this time, the interactions that you have with them are helping them build the skills and confidence for lifelong wellbeing and good mental health.

Being a parent is the hardest job in the world and can bring up a host of feelings, both positive and negative. Your body changes, your life changes and your relationships have to adjust.

It is often a time when we need to reach out or accept help and this is ok. There can be fear about doing this but there are lots of services in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale that understand about the challenges and joy that can come during this important time.

Read through some of the materials here. If you want to know more you can contact your Midwife or Health visitor directly or contact any of the services listed on this page.

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Like all of us, babies need to feel happy, secure and have good relationships with their family and those around them. Babies’ mental health and wellbeing can be hugely affected by things that happen in their lives, just as it can with ours.

The first 1001 days of a baby’s life, from conception up until age 2, is when babies brains grow the most and their foundations for life are laid down.  It is so important that we make sure all babies feel happy, secure and have good early life experiences, as what happens to them in the first 1001 days can affect their lifelong health outcomes.

Babies pick up on so much around them, and can be negatively affected by parental conflict, lack of interaction or just not having their needs responded to. But if babies grow up feeling safe, receiving warm and predictable care from adults, this helps them to grow up healthy and secure.

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Perinatal is the period of time from conception and up to 2 years after your child is born. This is for both parents.

Around one in four women and one in ten men can be affected by mental health problems at this time. While depression and anxiety disorders are the most common, other conditions such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder can emerge or worsen during the perinatal period.

Many parents who experience distress and emotional problems in the perinatal period might not have symptoms to meet a clinical diagnosis of a mental illness, but even without a diagnosis, there is still support available to you.

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This is a space for prospective parents and parents of babies and toddlers. It includes lots of useful information, resources and links to services which can be accessed if parents need help or advice.

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Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Early Attachment Service

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Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Early Attachment Service

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Direct specialist support for parents who may need help in building their relationship with their baby or young child.  The service works with parents from conception until the child’s second birthday.  Promotes the importance of parent and infant mental health and the first relationship an infant has with their parent or carer

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Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale early attachment service is a parent infant mental health service led by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

We work in partnership with Bury and Rochdale Care Organisation (part of the Northern Care Alliance group), Thinking Ahead (part of the Big Life Group) and Home Start.

We promote the importance of parent and infant mental health and the first relationship an infant has with their parent or carer.

We work with you and your baby during pregnancy, and with you and your babies and young children up until their second birthday.

We can help you if you need support in building your relationship with your baby or young child.

Lots of things can affect how you feel about your baby and yourself. Having a baby or young child can be difficult at the best of times.

Sometimes it can feel hard to cope with a baby's feeding, sleeping or crying.

Sometimes other things can affect how you feel about your baby, such as depression in pregnancy, or after birth, a traumatic birth, mental health problems, learning needs, events from the past or present, and you may feel worried about some of the feelings you have.

All these problems can affect anyone. We are there to provide extra support so that your relationship is a strong foundation for your future lives.

We will try to offer you an appointment within three weeks of the referral being made.

You'll have a number of appointments with one of our clinicians, to talk through your problems and concerns, and we'll work out together what sort of help will be most appropriate for you and your baby or child.

We also offer training and consultation to other professionals and services to help them support families they are working with.

We might talk to you about making a referral to our parent-infant mental health colleagues in your local perinatal community mental health team, or Thinking Ahead.

Staff training and development opportunities

We want to make sure that local colleagues (in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale) have the knowledge, skills and confidence to promote and support parent infant mental, for the families living in the area.

We have a growing range of training and development opportunities on offer. Many of these can be booked via our Eventbrite page.

Please take a look and get involved. It's always great to get together with colleagues to think about how we can support local babies and their parents and carers.

Your Baby and You materials

Your Baby and You has been written by families and professionals together, with information, videos and things to help you to get to know and understand your baby.

Take your time to read through the content during pregnancy, and remember to revisit it following birth.

We have also developed some materials with more information about the service, click the links below to view or download a copy:

Frequently asked questions

How long is the waiting list?

Someone from the service will get in touch with you, or the person who referred you, within a few days and meet with you within three weeks.

Do babies really have mental health?

Absolutely! Babies start responding to the world around them while still in the womb.

Just like adults they get sad, scared and lonely, but don't have words yet to let us know. They communicate these emotions in other ways such as crying, not being able to settle, not being able to feed, switching off/sleeping a lot.

Sometimes it's hard to tune into your baby's emotions and that's something we can help you with.

Isn't it more important that mum gets support?

In short, no. Becoming a parent is a life changing experience for all involved; dads, partners and other caregivers are as equally important to the baby as mum is.

Dads, partners and other caregivers can experience hormone and brain changes, have often shared stressful times in their journey to parenthood (whether that's by pregnancy and childbirth, adoption or another path), and generally had their world turned upside down. It makes sense that many dads, partners and other caregivers struggle with feeling low, anxious or stressed.

Babies need all their caregivers to look after their mental health and wellbeing, so they can build those healthy relationships that we know are needed for healthy brain and good mental health.

What does it mean if I ask for support?

Once we receive a referral, one of our practitioners will get in touch with you or the person that referred you to get some more information.

We will decide together which area of the service would be the best to support you and what that support should look like.

After this, we will think about your goals and how we will work towards them. We will review our work together and, with your consent, we will provide update letters to you and other key people involved (e.g GP, health visitor).

Alternatively, if we think another service will be better able to support you we will support you in accessing this.

Can we bring our baby into appointments?

Of course, we are all about babies and their mums, dads and carers.

There might be times when it is helpful to meet without your baby and we can think together about how we do this.

Is this different to the specialist perinatal community mental health team?

Some of you may have heard of the specialist perinatal community mental health team, which is separate to us.

They work across Greater Manchester and are provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The perinatal community mental health team supports women who experience high-risk mental health problems during and after pregnancy, and for their infant up to the age of one year.

There are many similarities between our services and we often support the same families. We share many specialist skills and knowledge of perinatal and infant mental health, meaning that both services are able to offer wide range of support.

The are some differences between our services, with the main one being that we are better placed to support more complex parent-infant relationship struggles or complex infant mental health concerns; while they are better placed to support high-risk perinatal mental health problems experienced by mothers.

If you are not sure which service is most suitable for you or a family's needs, then we would be happy to think about this with you. You can contact us on 0161 716 2873 or pcn-tr.hmreasadmin@nhs.net

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Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale early attachment service

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Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale early attachment service brings together a range of professionals from CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services), Home-Start, maternity, thinking ahead, and adult mental health. We promote the importance of parent and infant mental health and the first relationship an infant has with their parent or carer.

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A universal health service for preschool children and their families, starting from the antenatal period, providing advice, guidance and support on child health and safeguarding issues, child development, parenting, attachment and parental health issues; as well as infant feeding, healthy weight and nutrition, accident prevention and oral health.  Every family has a health visitor.  Visit the website for more details.

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Every family in Heywood Middleton and Rochdale with a child aged 0 to 5 years has a named health visitor.

Health visitors are qualified nurses or who have specialist qualifications in community public health. Their training allows them to assess the health needs of individuals and families to promote good health and prevent illness.

What we do

We offer support and encouragement to you and your family from pregnancy and birth, early years, to primary school. We can give advice on lots of things including

Infant feeding

Healthy weight and nutrition

Child development

Accident prevention

Oral health

Emotional health and well-being

We will offer you a core set of visits. If you need extra support we can tailor the service around your needs. We deliver care in your home

Health centres

Children's centres

Community-based locations

Locations

We are based in small teams at locations across the borough. Please contact the team based nearest to where you live (by postcode).
Heywood
Phoenix Centre, Church Street, Heywood, OL10 1LR
Contact: 0161 206 7487

Email: heywoodhvteam@nca.nhs.uk
Middleton
Brook House, Oldham Road, Rochdale, M24 1AY
Contact: 0161 206 7729

Email: middletonhvteam@nca.nhs.uk
Pennine
Milnrow Health Centre, Stonefield Street, Milnrow, OL16 4HZ
Contact: 01706 671910

Email: penninehvteam@nca.nhs.uk
Rochdale North
Ings lane Clinic, Phoenix Street, Rochdale, OL12 7DW
Contact: 0161 206 2906

Email: northhvteam@nca.nhs.uk
Rochdale South
Croft Shifa Health Centre, Belfield Road, Rochdale, OL16 2UP
Contact: 01706 674920

Email: southhvteam@nca.nhs.uk

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Our Rochdale | Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Health Visiting Service

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Every family in Heywood Middleton and Rochdale with a child aged 0 to 5 years has a named health visitor. Health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives who have specialist qualifications in community public health. Their training allows them to assess the health needs of individuals and families to promote good health and prevent illness.

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A ‘one-stop-shop’ for advice on cancer diagnosis in pregnancy, including links to localised services.  This is supported directly by Macmillan.  Advocacy on behalf of families.  This includes support at hospital appointments, benefits entitlements, working with other organisations to draw in additional support, and employment rights advice.

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'My diagnosis was

a complete shock

to me.'

fundraising events

Great North Run

Virtual Run

Global Challenges

'I wondered if I would have the chance to see my twins grow up.'

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH TEAM STAR

Receive updates and news from us

our supporters

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Mummy's Star | Charity | Cancer and Pregnancy

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'My diagnosis was a complete shock to me.' fundraising events Great North Run Virtual Run Global Challenges 'I wondered if I would have the chance to see my twins grow up.' our supporters

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Dad Matters in partnership with the NHS has developed the DadPad - a great free app, containing information and advice for dads

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Get the DadPad app!

Welcome to the DadPad app download page.

If you are using an Apple device, please click on the App Store button below.

If you are using an Android device, please click on the Google Play button.

Once you've downloaded the app onto your device, you will be prompted to enter your postcode. From here, you will be invited to select the most relevant app for your area, containing information on local services, support groups and hospitals.

Please note that the content can only be accessed in areas of the country with a current DadPad app licence.

If it is not available but you wish that it was, please get in touch to let us know! We are working on and launching the app in new areas all the time, to ensure that it is accessible to as many dads-to-be and new dads that need our help as possible. Please keep an eye on our social media pages (e.g. Twitter and Facebook) and News page, as well as your own local newspapers, radio and television, for details of each new DadPad area as it is launched.

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DadPad | DadPad app | Essential guide for new dads

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Welcome to the DadPad app download page. If you are using an Apple device, please click on the App Store button below. If you are using an Android device, please click on the Google Play button. Once you've downloaded the app onto your device, you will be prompted to enter your postcode.

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Dad Matters - Supporting Dads to have the best possible relationship with their baby

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Dad Matters - Supporting Dads to have the best possible relationship with their baby

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Dad Matters aims to help dads have successful relationships with their families, and to support dads with anxiety, stress and mental health issues.  The service hopes to get dads engaged with services that have traditionally been targeted at mums.  Dad Matters works directly with services that support Dads, families and especially babies to increase engagement and knowledge across the sector.  It wants 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.  The team has links to midwifery, health visiting, mental health services and voluntary sector organisations across Greater Manchester

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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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Homestart Rochdale – Parent Infant Mental Health Support 

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Homestart Rochdale – Parent Infant Mental Health Support 

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Nurturing parents and children together in the earliest years. Homestart deliver tailored support to families with a child under 2 where parents have experienced mental health difficulties, helping to support their positive bond with their baby.  Helping parents understand the importance of early relationships for them and their baby, empowering them with the tools, information and support to help form positive bonds which are vital for babies’ future health, well-being & development.

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“Home-Start has meant the world to me. I truly wouldn’t be where I am without your support. You have saved me and my mental health in more ways than one. I will forever be grateful and thankful for her and Home-Start services. Thank you!!”.

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Vroom Vroom:  app to help develop babies’ brain power 

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Vroom Vroom:  app to help develop babies’ brain power 

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The App offers parents a toolbox of tips to boost kids’ capacity to learn while promoting parent-child bonding.

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Photo credit: Vroom

Here's a mind-blowing fact: Up to age 5, a child's brain makes 700 neuronal connections per second. Hundreds of billions of neurons are present at birth, and the first five years are when the brain develops the fastest.

"It's like fireworks in the brain," says Nicole DeCario, a managing director for the Bezos Family Foundation.

While incredible development is happening during a child's early years, parents and caregivers are sometimes perplexed about how to complement that development, or how to boost the learning potential of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. What tools help kids learn most? What games, activities and products should we use? Does how we talk to our kids impact how much they can grab onto?

For more than seven years, the Bezos Family Foundation has sponsored research by neuroscientists and child development experts at the Harvard Center on the Developing Child and the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) at the University of Washington, among other top institutions, to answer those questions.

The foundation wanted to go beyond sponsoring research, though: Leaders wanted to take that academic and ivory-tower learning and place it into the hands of parents in an easy-to-use format. So it created Vroom, an app and program aimed at helping parents use everyday moments as catalysts for boosting children's learning potential. The Vroom program includes a mobile app and community outreach projects. Brand- and household product collaborations are currently in the works.

It all stems from the brain

When you're putting away laundry, ask your child, 'How does this feel? Is it soft, light, heavy?'

The research the foundation has sponsored indicates that neuronal connections form an essential groundwork that enables a child's future learning and growth.

Each seemingly simple interaction with a baby, toddler, or preschooler can spark an opportunity to make those neuronal connections stronger - whether it's a song sung during a diaper change, or a fun winking game while brushing teeth before bed.

Daily Vroom, the program's free mobile app, offers quick tips that can be used throughout the day for interacting with a child, whether you're at home or out and about. Parents and caregivers tap an icon such as "getting dressed" or "at the park," and up pops one of nearly 1,000 tips designed to help your kid learn, along with a tidbit of brain science that's behind the tip (the app calls these quick bites of information the "Brainy Background"). The activities are intended to help build the brain's cognition, language, literacy and executive functions.

Daily Vroom was developed in conjunction with early-learning experts and neuroscientists, as well as community leaders - including Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund. Busy parents were also consulted. So the activities the app suggests are quick and fun, the better to keep your kids' attention, but also easy enough for sleep-deprived parents who are juggling many responsibilities.

"We've all heard the recommendations to read to your child for 15 minutes a day," says DeCario. "But what if you work three jobs, and don't have those 15 minutes?"

That's why the Vroom activities can be woven into a day without any fuss. For example, in the "cleaning up" activity section, the app recommends that parents sing as they clean house. If your baby responds verbally, it recommends that parents then incorporate those sounds into the song:

Photo credit: Vroom

"Baby says, ba, ba, ba, so early in the morning." (The app personalizes the tips with your kid's name.)

Another tip helps transform the simple task of putting away laundry a brain-boosting activity. DeCario says, "When you're putting away laundry, ask your child, 'How does this feel? Is it soft, light, heavy?' And ask, 'What else feels this way?'"

"Serve and return interaction is a key ingredient for healthy brain development," DeCario says. "All of Vroom's content supports these back and forth interactions, and many of the tips include activities that build executive function skills, which are the key to success in school and in life."

The Brainy Background info for this particular Daily Vroom activity explains that when you sing, it activates the part of your child's brain that processes sound. It also stimulates the part of the brain responsible for actions. So, singing helps your babe listen more clearly, while simultaneously prepping her brain to help her learn words in the future.

Keep it simple, silly

Within the app, the scientific concepts underlying the activities are very simplified - it doesn't delve into potentially intimidating neuroscience terms such as auditory cortex or frontal lobe. Part of Vroom's mission is to boost confidence by helping parents believe they innately possess everything they need to help promote their child's development. The app is colorful and rewards-focused - parents earn online badges when they tap to indicate they've finished activities - and the positive messages will be appealing to parents who are familiar with the gaming experience.

The Vroom program has also rolled out community-based outreach to support child development organizations and caregivers in Washington's King County as well as in Dallas, Boston, Oregon (with the State Department of Early Learning), and Louisiana, with plans to expand to additional states in 2016. Save the Children and Childcare Aware of America are two major agencies that the foundation is partnering with.

DeCario says that the foundation is also in the early stages of working with brands and household product companies to place Daily Vroom-style activity suggestions on products that parents encounter every day, from diapers to bottles to food.

The concept is to meet parents where they are, and emphasize to them that they "already have what it takes to be a brain builder," as DeCario puts it. "Every time you interact with the kids and their eyes light up the sparkle in their eyes, you know that their brains are lighting up."

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Vroom Vroom: App to Help Develop Babies' Brain Power Is Taking Off

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Want tips to boost kids' capacity to learn, while promoting parent-child bonding? Try Vroom, the new app and program from the Bezos Family Foundation.

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Best Beginnings - for every parent, for every child

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Best Beginnings - for every parent, for every child

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Practical, simple, educational and interactive tools to support parents-to-be and new parents

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We develop simple, educational and interactive tools to support parents-to-be and new parents so every child in the UK has the best start in life.

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Your Baby and You - helping you find your way with your little one

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Help and support from pregnancy through your child’s early years