Bolton Parent Infant Mental Health by

Parent And Infant Relationship Service PAIRS

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 10:36:03 UTC

Who can we support?

We offer support to mums, dads, partners and caregivers from pregnancy up until baby is 2 years old, who may be experiencing difficulties adjusting to parenthood and would benefit from support in developing a positive relationship with their baby.

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 10:42:06 UTC

Baby in Mind is a collaboration between Bolton Start Well and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust. The service has been funded for 2 years initially, via the national Best Start For Life initiative. The aim of the service is to provide PIMH support to universal services and families across Bolton.

It has recently been confirmed that the funding for Best Start In Life has been extended until 2029!!!

Stand by for updates as to what this means for BIM and some new exciting service offers.

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 10:59:39 UTC

Video Interaction Guidance (VIG)

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:21:11 UTC

VIG is an intervention which aims to promote and improve parent-infant relationships and communication through the use of video.

Baby Bonding

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:24:40 UTC

Baby Bonding helps parents to see the world through their baby’s eyes.

It can support them to be able to understand their baby’s needs and how they communicate these.

It also helps parents to reflect and think about their own experiences as a parent.

Watch Me Play!

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:24:54 UTC

Watch me Play! is a bit different to how we might normally approach play with babies/children, as it is more intensive.

It uses a baby/child-led approach to play.

It also helps parents/carers to reflect and think about the experience of play for both them and their baby/child.

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:26:51 UTC

PIMH Services should all work together to ensure there is the right support at the right time for each family.

Home-Start Host

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:28:59 UTC

Home-Start are a fantastic service who support families with mild/moderate relational difficulties.

They have groups - With You In Mind and offer peer support services too.

Dad Matters

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:30:25 UTC

Dad Matters is a wonderful service designed specifically to support dads. This service has a wide range of support options designed to suit various levels of needs.

MHIST

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:34:51 UTC

MHIST offer groups (Small Steps) across Bolton to families of children under 2 or who are expecting. These are designed for families to meet other people and share experiences in a supportive environment.

Toy Library

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:38:20 UTC

The Toy Library offer drop-in sessions to support parents/guardians with babies and children. They also loan specialised learning resources and have a 'Multi-sensory room' for children to experience and explore.

What are Interventions?

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:45:41 UTC

Interventions are the types of therapy or sessions that we use to make positive changes in Parent Infant Mental Health.

In the PAIRS service we use a range of evidence based interventions, which means we can help lots of families in lots of different ways. We will always try to discuss which intervention we think would be a good fit and take into consideration any difficulties each individual would have when accessing these.

What are Consultations?

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:50:39 UTC

Consultations are something offered to the professionals working with a family. They are offered by both Baby in Mind and PAIRS.

The aim is to support these professionals to think about the families' difficulties and what might be helpful to consider in order to make some positive changes.

Families are not involved in the consultation process although they should be aware it is happening and have given consent for information to be shared with other professionals.

Following the consultation it might be suggested that a specific intervention would be beneficial and this would be delivered by PAIRS or Baby in Mind.

Compassionate Focussed Therapy (CFT)

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:51:09 UTC

CFT helps support parents and carers to navigate their own stress and difficult emotions whilst considering their baby. CFT then promotes a more compassionate and rational way of thinking for the caregiver, to try and experience the world and their baby differently.

1001 Critical Days

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:57:56 UTC

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 12:58:40 UTC

BSFL and Family Hubs Info

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 13:01:00 UTC

Referral Process

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 13:03:09 UTC

PAIRS

Currently professionals can complete a referral form on the professionals padlet and email this to PAIRS (contact details available via the PAIRS for professionals PADLET)

BIM

Currently the professional working with a family should contact via email at babyinmind.pairs@gmmh.nhs.uk

Please see professionals padlet for more information on which team to refer to and contact details

Mental Health Support

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 13:06:33 UTC

Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS)

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 13:07:51 UTC

PETALS is a service to support bereaved parents

Specialist perinatal service

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-26 13:08:37 UTC

Perinatal CMHT is the service that supports mother's with significant perinatal mental health needs up until the baby is one.

Parent Infant Psychotherapy

boltonparentinfant — 2024-06-27 07:14:17 UTC

This psychoanalytic intervention involves non-directive therapeutic work, which primarily focuses on the relationship between parent and infant, in an attempt to support healthy infant development.

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-02 07:48:15 UTC

Parent Infant Mental Health looks at the relationship between the parent and infant. Having a positive relationship can lead to good emotional health and wellbeing in the infant and gives them a good foundation for future mental health.

PIMH difficulties can look different in different families for example, feelings of disconnectedness, struggles adjusting to parenthood or anxiousness about caring for infant, as well as much much more.

Mental Health Midwifery Services

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-04 15:37:23 UTC

Health Visitor

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-09 07:15:20 UTC

"I would like to express my gratitude at having the pleasure to work with the team. I have found the individual and holistic way the work has been moulded around the family is outstanding.
Multiagency services and families of Bolton are incredibly fortunate to have support of the PAIRS team".

Information for Parents

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-09 14:41:49 UTC

Here is a link to a padlet containing lots of resources and information for parents caring for young children. There is information on, feeding, siblings, relationships, crying, developmental information and much more!

Information for Professionals

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-09 14:44:08 UTC

Here is a link to a padlet containing lots of resources for professionals working with families. There is information on healthy relationships, PAIRS consultation offer, training and supervision offer and much more!

Support in Bolton

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-16 11:40:11 UTC

How to get one?

boltonparentinfant — 2024-07-19 08:44:22 UTC

BIM

Baby in mind currently do not have a referral form and the way to seek consultation would be through emailing the baby in mind generic email.

PAIRS

The referral form for a PAIRS consultation can be found on the information for professionals padlet along with the email to send the form to.

Information Advice and Guidance Sessions

boltonparentinfant — 2026-03-04 10:38:21 UTC

IAG's are sessions delivered by the BIM team in Family Hubs around Bolton. At the moment due to some service developments, please get in touch with the team via babyinmind.pairs@gmmh.nhs.uk to find out more information/when we will be at a Family Hub near you!

Parent

boltonparentinfant — 2026-03-04 10:51:23 UTC

"It is good to know that a service is available. Quicker access was important and it was a straightforward process. I go to the family hubs anyway and the information was all in the leaflets. Professionals were aware of the services on offer and being in the hub was helpful. As a step into the service it was good not feeling clinical, because asking for more help can feel like a big step. This feels easier"

Parent

boltonparentinfant — 2026-03-04 10:53:54 UTC

"I found the space to talk helpful especially when not feeling listened to elsewhere. My feelings were validated. It was helpful especially during pregnancy when I felt most alone and needing emotional support"

Parent

boltonparentinfant — 2026-03-04 10:58:05 UTC

"Being able to take both of my boys to the sessions was great and access to the hubs was easy. Talking to the professional and getting the sense my feelings were valid helped me. Thinking about my anxiety, the root of these feelings was insightful"