Little Minds in Mind at the National Parent-Infant Teams Network Day

The Little Minds in Mind team were attended the National Parent-Infant Teams Network Day, organised by the Parent Infant Foundation in Leeds on 29th April. The event brought together practitioners, researchers, and leaders from across the UK who share a commitment to giving babies the best possible start in life. It was inspiring to meet teams from so many regions who are deeply passionate about parent–infant relationships and Infant Mental Health.

 

As Little Minds in Mind continues to grow and evolve, the day offered a valuable opportunity to explore emerging research, learn from innovative approaches that strengthen early relationships, and reflect on how we can continue delivering high‑quality support in Newcastle, made possible through funding from Newcastle City Council’s Children and Families offer.

Before the conference began, we were able to preview the new marketing materials, which will soon be displayed in family hubs across the city. We received a warm welcome from the Parent Infant Foundation team and were particularly pleased to hear from CEO Keith Reed, who shared updates on the *Why Babies’ First Relationships Matter* report from the Centre for Mental Health and its relevance for PAIR and IMH teams.

Jane Turner and her team delivered a thought‑provoking session on developing a parent–infant pathway in South Yorkshire. We also heard from Becky Saunders, the new Strategic Clinical Lead at the Parent Infant Foundation; Hilda Beauchamp from the Institute of Health Visiting; and Gemma Dyble, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Leeds – each offering valuable insights from their areas of expertise.

The afternoon breakout sessions gave us the chance to dive deeper into practical tools and research. Our team explored sessions on the Ready to Relate toolkit, Blackpool’s Think Baby toolkit, capturing the voice of the baby, infant–parent work within primary care, and research from PEDAL and Cambridge University on sensitive caregiving. Each session offered practical insights we’re excited to bring back into our delivery in Newcastle.

Throughout the day, we connected with colleagues from Blackpool, Wales, Bradford, London, and Scotland – sharing our work, learning from others, and discussing future developments across the sector.

We left the event energised and inspired. As a team, we remain dedicated to:
• Engaging with partners about our work with neurodivergent parents and babies with a social care footprint
• Strengthening reflective practice across our team
• Embedding new evidence into assessment and intervention
• Sharing learning with partners across Newcastle and within Children North East
• Advocating for policies that prioritise babies’ emotional wellbeing

After a long but rewarding day, we felt incredibly proud – not only of the fantastic work happening across the country, but of the meaningful impact being made here in Newcastle. Together, we are helping to shape brighter beginnings for babies and families, and that is something truly worth celebrating.