New specialist parent and infant relationship team supporting families across Devon
A specialist service dedicated to strengthening the bond between babies and their primary caregivers has launched to support families across Devon build secure, loving relationships during the crucial first two years of a child’s life.
The Parent and Infant Relationship (PAIR) Team, part of Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD), provides specialist support for families from conception until a child reaches two years of age. Made up of Clinical Psychologists and Child & Adolescent Psychotherapists, the team works with babies, parents and caregivers to promote secure early relationships that support lifelong health, wellbeing and emotional development.
Angharad Howell, Principal Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist and Clinical lead for the Parent and Infant Relationship Team, said, “A baby’s earliest relationships play a vital role in shaping their social, emotional and developmental outcomes. PAIR offers support when there are concerns about the attachment relationship between a baby and their caregiver, particularly where these difficulties may already be affecting, or could affect, the child’s development in the future.”
As part of CFHD’s commitment to supporting children, young people and families across Devon, the service is designed to ensure specialist support is available to families during one of the most important stages of a child’s development.
The team offers support to families who may be struggling with these experiences and are concerned about their relationship with their baby.
Support available through PAIR includes:
- Psychoeducation and information about infant development and attachment
- Signposting to partner agencies and community resources
- Consultation with professionals supporting the family
- Short-term interventions to help parents make sense of difficulties
- Specialist medium- to longer-term therapeutic support, including Parent-Infant Psychotherapy
The service typically works with parents and babies together, creating a safe and supportive space to explore the challenges families may be facing. Sessions provide opportunities to reflect on parents’ thoughts and feelings about their baby, while also helping caregivers understand and respond to their baby’s emotional and developmental needs through their sounds, behaviours and body language.
PAIR also works closely with other professionals involved in supporting families, including health visitors, midwives, social workers and perinatal mental health teams, ensuring a coordinated approach to care.
By supporting healthy early relationships, the PAIR team aims to give babies the strongest possible foundation for future emotional wellbeing, resilience and development.
For more information and to contact the PAIR team, please CLICK HERE