Jenni Minto MSP met staff, partners and families at Best Beginnings in Lochgilphead to hear how the service is improving outcomes for babies and parents across Argyll and Bute.
A local Argyll and Bute family support service had a special visit today from Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute. Visiting Best Beginnings: Argyll and Bute Infant Mental Health Service at Mid Argyll Community Hospital and Integrated Care Centre (Lochgilphead), Ms Minto was able to meet the specialist clinician and other community practitioners who work to help babies, parents and carers build strong, healthy relationships during the earliest stages of life.
The visit highlighted the importance of accessible infant mental health support for families living in rural and remote communities. As the local MSP, Ms Minto heard how the service works with families to support early relationships between babies and their parents through direct clinical work, training, consultation and community engagement.
During the visit, Ms Minto met service lead, Lorna Curran, colleagues from Health Visiting, Midwifery and representatives from the national charity, the Parent-Infant Foundation. She learned about the practical challenges of delivering specialist care across an area of 6,700 square kilometres. The discussion also explored how joint working between health, social care and community partners can help families receive the support they need earlier and closer to home.
Ms Minto also had the opportunity to meet two local families and their young children who have been supported by Best Beginnings, to hear first-hand, about the positive impact of relationship-focused work on them and their baby.
Lorna Curran, Parent-Infant Relationship Therapist for Argyll and Bute HSCP, said: ”For a baby, feeling safe, understood and 'held' in the mind of a caring adult builds the foundation for all emotional and brain development. Working with babies means I get the privilege of holding their experience and potential in my mind while helping parents hold and understand their child. Supporting these earliest connections changes not just one life, but shapes families and communities for years to come.”
Lucy Morton, Development Lead, The Parent-Infant Foundation, said: “A baby’s brain develops rapidly during pregnancy and throughout the early years of life. What happens during this time not only affects a baby in the moment, it also lays the foundations for their future health and wellbeing. Not everyone bonds easily with their baby. There are many stressors in life that can put pressure on relationships between parents and their babies. That is why Infant Mental Health services like Best Beginnings are so vital. The service works with families in a range of ways including those who need intensive therapeutic support. The Parent-Infant-Foundation is delighted to support this visit from the local MSP and works in partnership with health boards to provide support to develop this type of service in every part of Scotland.”
Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: “A privilege to meet with the NHS Highland Argyll and Bute infant mental health team and the Parent Infant Foundation and hear about the amazing work they are doing in Argyll and Bute.
The caring and kind way the team put babies and their parents or carers at the heart of their work was so clear. Hearing from parents whose lives and importantly their baby’s life had been improved by the support they received was quite emotional. It was clear that this focussed care enabled parents to understand their baby’s needs giving them the best of beginnings.”
Best Beginnings offers individual and group therapy to families from birth to a child’s third birthday. The service supports families where there is a parent-infant relationship difficulty or a difficulty may occur in the future. Referral is usually via community services including health visitors and midwives.
Contact details are available from the Parent-Infant Foundation website.