Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network - About the Network
On this page:
- What is the Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network?
- Why do we need the Network?
- What will the Network do?
- Who is on the Network steering group?
- Join the Network
What is the Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network?
The Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network is a unique national network for social care and health workers who work with parents with a mental health problem or their children, offering a wealth of information about local and national policies, services, publications and events.
The Network has been set up to promote joint working between adult mental health and children's services and to promote knowledge about good practice in the sector. Using knowledge gathered from diverse sources and a broad range of people and organisations, this takes place via this website, events, and involvement in key research, policy and practice initiatives. The network is coordinated by the Social Perspectives Network (SPN) on behalf of SCIE with which close links are maintained.
This site includes information about the Network, links to key resources in adult mental health and children's services, and information about Network and related events. You can contribute to the site by submitting practice examples, information on publication resources, links, information and comment on local issues, and key messages from your own research.
Why do we need the Network?
Research and enquiry reports have established the links between parental mental illness and child welfare and the need for mental health and children and family services to work together to meet the needs of families.
A number of national and local initiatives have been established to promote a family approach to parental mental ill health, including a national training programme, the development of interagency protocols and the recruitment of specialist interface workers. However, change has been patchy and slow, with a number of obstacles continuing to hinder progress.
What will the Network do?
The Network aims to improve joint working between adult mental health and child care services and to raise practice standards by improving knowledge, sharing information and influencing policy change.
To achieve this the Network:
- shares and disseminates research, information and good collaborative practice examples
- reviews existing practice and access to care for parents with mental health problems and their families
- contributes to the first-ever national practice guidelines being coordinated by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
The Network organises two study days a year for around 100 people to debate topics identified by Network members. The findings from these days are circulated to Network members, used in consultation or practice development processes and fed back to policy makers.
The Network produces a bi-monthly newsletter with articles about good practice and recent research and upkeeps this website which lists resources and links to other organisations, projects and examples of best practice.
Who is on the Network steering group?
The steering group members include organisations and service users who have an interest or understanding of parental mental health. Steering group members meet bi-monthly and take part in planning and facilitating activities and in smaller working groups leading on areas of research, policy, service and practice development
Meet the Steering Group members.
Join the Network
The Network is an opportunity to hear about practice developments, new research, publications and projects. It is an opportunity to share with others the work you are involved in as well as an opportunity to involve others in work you are hoping to take forward.
The Network is a forum to debate local and national policy, training, management and practice dilemmas. It also enables you to contribute to the development of national guidance.
- Click here to join the network.
