How to integrate infant mental health into your practice
Our online Foundation Course provides:
A basic understanding of infant brain development, emotional regulation, attachment and attunement.
A toolkit of visual resources so you can explain these concepts to parents 1:2:1 in a quick interactive way.
Who is the course suitable for?
Statutory sector staff e.g. health visitors, midwives, family support workers, perinatal mental health practitioners, nursery nurses, speech/language/play therapists, childcare and nursery staff, and social workers. You might be familiar with the subject already, or it might be new to you. Either way, you will learn some simple visual ways to explain complex theory to parents during their infant’s crucial first 1001 days of life.
Continuous Professional Development
This course is accredited by the Infant Mental Health Recognition Register/Association of Infant Mental Health and mapped to AiMH UK Infant Mental Health Competencies Framework.
On completion of the Foundation Course, you can apply to be trained to deliver the GroBrain Baby or Toddler Course.
Course outcomes
By the end of this course you should be able to:
Help pregnant mothers connect diet and life style choices with their baby’s brain development
Explain the three parts of the brain and how it is ‘wired up’
Demonstrate how a baby’s stress response is developed
Give a simple explanation of attachment
Help parents attune to their baby’s needs and feelings
using the GroBrain Resource Pack
GroBrain Resource Pack
This is an integral and vital part of the course, giving you the tools to explain concepts to parents in a simple visual way. The GroBrain Resource Pack is sent in the regular post and contains:
Full training notes
A5 booklet called 'How parents 'wire up' their baby's brain' containing the key messages
A conceptualised brain diagram
A visual resource explaining attachment
A diagram on diet and lifestyle in pregnancy
Course details and cost
The Foundation Course costs £240 + VAT, and includes:
7 online modules (giving underpinning knowledge & GroBrain methodology)
GroBrain Resource Pack (sent by regular post)
A tutor-marked practical assignment
9 CPD Certificate from Association of Infant Mental Health
This course is for statutory sector only and is not available for private practitioners.
Feedback from practitioners
‘I found using the brain diagram and wires really helpful, as I could show mum the big impact she has on her baby’s brain development, and how simple things can make such a big difference.’
‘I like the way the resources are set out. You give information first then ask some follow up questions. This allows for informal conversations about different aspects of parenting without seeming to be ‘testing’ how they are getting on.’
‘I think Grobrain should be taught on Health Visiting and Midwifery courses. I really wish I had received this training earlier in my career as I think it is amazing to use with families.’
‘I feel my parent left the session with strong knowledge and skills to put into practice. I feel confident my parent will be able to bond and attach with baby as she knows the benefits and why brain development is important and how to reduce stress with simple techniques.’ Practitioner working with younger parents in Tier 3-4
‘I really would have been a very different parent if I had done this course before I had children.’
‘I am impressed how easy it is to talk about this complicated topic to parents. The visuals support me to deliver the information and help parents understand it better.’
‘The visual aids are extremely useful, and the three-step approach helps bring all the theories together in a cohesive way.’
‘A benefit of Grobrain is having visuals to accompany what you're trying to explain to parents. This I think gives the parents a better overall understanding.’
‘I know I will definitely use the Grobrain tool in the future it is really clear and easy to follow with great visual aids. I think it could be easily slotted into other courses we already run as the messages are clear.’