Help for Professionals
Bolton Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) is a specialist multidisciplinary community-based team that provides assessment, consultation, training, supervision and intervention to professionals and parents supporting the development of healthy bonds and relationships from the very beginning.
We invite mums, dads and carers and guardians to engage with our service. We offer support and intervention from conception to two years of age.
At Bolton PAIRS we place infants and children at the heart of our work. We focus on promoting positive infant mental health, increasing children’s capacity to experience, regulate and express emotions, form close and secure relationships and explore the environment and learn.
Research strongly indicates early intervention is essential in achieving the best possible outcomes for children.
Who we support
Infants or children who:
- Look anxious, tense, distressed or fearful
- Are displaying poor signs of attachment
- Have current experience of adverse childhood experiences, abuse or trauma
- Show developmental delay
- Were born prematurely
Parental or professional concerns regarding:
- Parent(s) struggling with the experience of being pregnant or being a parent
- Pregnancy or parenting intensifying previous trauma or mental health difficulties
- Lack of bonding or attachment, in the antenatal period and following birth
- Ambivalence towards their pregnancy, infant or child
- An inability to recognise and respond appropriately to their infant or child cues
- Negativity and/or hostility towards their infant or child or unborn child
- Previous attachment or parent-infant difficulties
Parents and families with additional vulnerabilities such as:
- History of adverse childhood experiences or trauma
- Mild, moderate or severe mental health problems such as depression or anxiety present prior to conception
- Previous experience of children removed from their care
- Teenage or young parents
How we work with families and professionals
We aim to support and work alongside professionals by offering:
- Regular drop-in sessions for parents and professionals
- Baby in Mind consultation (online or in-person) and advice
- Joint work with referrers
- Training opportunities across agencies
- Clinical supervision
- Shared risk support in line with national THRIVE framework
Our approach with our families is flexible and needs led and can be in the form of:
- Home visits
- Group sessions or direct work
- One-to-one assessment, support and direct therapeutic work with parents, carers and their infant or child
How to access our service
Consultations and referrals can be arranged by completing the referral form attached and sending it to boltonPAIRSreferral@gmmh.nhs.uk
Please see our full consultation form for more information.
Following the consultation, a written summary, in the form of a letter, will be sent to you and there will be an opportunity for further consultation or follow-up if required.
If it is deemed that the family may benefit from direct PAIRS intervention, then this will be discussed with you and agreed with the PAIRS practitioner.
As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support.
Find resources for carers and service users Contact the Trust