This course develops the clinical competencies outlined by the Association for Infant Mental Health UK (AIMHUK). It is designed to allow students the opportunity to apply their learning within an infant mental health context

This course takes place over a full year.

Assessment of this placement will take the form of a Portfolio of IMH Competence, which comprises;

■ Completion of supervised clinical/industry practice 

■ Case and clinical supervision logs 

■ Presentation of case studies

■ Oral examination assessing the integration of knowledge and research into practice.

The Portfolio of IMH Competence will be considered as a whole (i.e. all components must be completed to the satisfaction of the oral examination examiners. (ILOs 1-7)

This course develops the clinical competencies outlined by the Association for Infant Mental Health UK (AIMHUK). It forms part of the MSc Infant Mental Health and is designed to allow students the opportunity to apply their learning within an infant mental health context.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate application of the principles of relationship-based practice., including collaborative working with the family; supporting sensitive caregiving; identifying and seeking to minimise barriers to engagement with support.

2. Apply understanding underpinned by appropriate theories and evidence-based practice in infant mental health and development to build a comprehensive case history and identify support needs, paying particular attention to; factors influencing brain development, developmental pathway in infancy; attachment patterns; ecological context; resilience.

3. Critically appraise factors influencing caregiving capacity across the transition to parenthood, including parental life experiences and mental health; adverse experiences; social and cultural influences on help seeking behaviours.

4. Report on the application of a standardised assessment of caregiving and evaluate concerns and safeguarding pathways 

5. Critique the evidence-base for interventions developed to support caregiving and defend the choice of one intervention within a case-study presentation 

6. Critically reflect on practice through the completion of a reflective journal documenting experiences during clinical placement; evidencing engagement in supervision; self-appraisal and collaborative working

7. Demonstrate experience working within relevant legal and professional frameworks, knowledge of relevant legislation and information sharing practices through case study presentation

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.