The community team office is available between 09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

Out of hours referrals requiring an emergency response will be undertaken by the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service.

The inpatient service offers 24 hour care and can take non urgent enquiries out of hours.

The main criteria for referral is that the mother suffers a mental illness associated with, or that may be exacerbated by, childbirth.

We welcome referrals from healthcare professionals including, GP's, CMHT's, Midwives, Health Visitors, and Maternity Departments. To enable us to respond appropriately, we ask that referrers complete the 'Perinatal Community Service Referral Form'.

Referrals for the Perinatal Community Team should be made in writing and sent either by fax, or by post.

Referrals for potential admission to Florence House, Mother and Baby Unit shoud be discussed with the team, in advance of making the referral.

The community team is committed to provide care and support for women in their own homes, where possible, enabling them to maintain their roles as mothers whilst their mental illness is safely treated. When required, the service has a dedicated mother and baby inpatient facility, Florence House.

Our Specialist Team are able to Offer:

• Psychiatric assessment and medication, if needed.
• Specialist advice on the risks and benefits of using psychotropic medication during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
• Pre-conception advice.
• Support with the developing mother and baby relationship.
• Psychological Therapies including Family Work, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Relapse-Prevention Work.
• Occupational Therapies for mother and baby which may include shopping, cooking, work around diet and excercise.
• Parenting skills support and training.

Admission to a Mother and Baby Unit has Benefits for Mother and Baby:

• Facilitation of mother and baby attachment.
• Early identification and effective treatment of the mother's mental illness may reduce the adverse impact that the illness may have on the baby's wellbeing.
• Build on mother's self-efficacy relating to her ability to parent.
• Enhanced recovery pathway, by keeping mother and baby together and encouraging family involvement.
• The specialist environment with tailored support facilitates mothers' recovery whilst enabling her to remain with her baby.   

We specialise in offering psychiatric assessments and management/treatment options for women suffering severe mental illness during pregnancy, or in the first postnatal year. We are also able to offer support to women with a history of severe mental illness who are planning a pregnancy, or who have become pregnant and are at high risk of relapse during pregnancy or the postnatal year.

Referrals may be made for:

• Perinatal advice regarding relapse, risks and medication for women suffering severe mental illness such as Bipolar Affective Disorder
• Severe mental illness during the antenatal period that requires specialist input from the Perinatal service
• Mothers from 32 weeks pregnancy with severe mental illness requiring inpatient admission
• Mothers who have high risk of relapse of severe mental illness in the postnatal year
• Moderate to severe depression in the postnatal year
• Relapse of previous severe mental illness in the postnatal period
• Post partum psychosis

Our multidisciplinary team work closely with Social Services, Health Visitors, Maternity departments and other healthcare providers to ensure a full nursing assessment package and individual needs led treatment plan is developed alongside Mums.

Staff Members Include:

• Registered Mental Health Nurses
• Consultant Psychiatrist
• Nursery Nurses
• Occupational Therapist
• Mental Health Support Workers
• and Admininstration Staff.

Referrals to the service must come from a healthcare professional, such as a GP or Health Visitor.

If you feel that you, or someone you know, might benefit from support from the Perinatal Mental Health Service, please talk to a healthcare professional, who can then make a referral to the Perinatal Service.

The Perinatal Mental Health Service is committed to being able to provide the best care and treatment programmes for women who need additional support. We offer a support group for women accessing the inpatient unit which is co-facilitated by a mother with lived experience. The service plans to develop this level of support in the community.

Understanding the impact that Perinatal Mental Health illness has on the mother's family is imperative to the mother's recovery. As a team we are able to offer partners/family members or close friends support alongside assisting with the mother's wellbeing plan. A 'carers' support group runs as part of the weekly therapeutic programme on the inpatient unit. Currently, we are developing ways in which a similar session can be delivered in the community.

The Perinatal Community Team offer support to women in their own homes between the hours of 09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). Outside of these hours the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service are in place to support women.

The Mother and Baby inpatient facility, Florence House is located at: 

49 Alumhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH4 8EP.

Admissions for Florence House are planned in advance, and where possible admissions take place between the hours of 09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday.

General enquiries about Florence House and information on purchasing beds are to be directed to Liz James, Modern Matron

Tel: 01202 584329

Email: liz.james@dhuft.nhs.uk

Referrals for admission are to be directed to Cressida Manning, Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist

Tel: 01202 584329

Email: cressida.manning@dhuft.nhs.uk

For all other enquiries please contact the Perinatal Team office

Tel: 01202 584329