yblive Summer 2009, Ready, Steady, Grow
Training for the Parent – Child Psychological Support Programme
Mary Fanning, Coordinator with the Parent and Child Psychological Support Programme talks to us about the PCPSP, an evidence-based programme developed by Professor Angeles Cerezo of the University of Valencia.
Training has just completed for the Parent Child Psychological Support Programme (PCPSP), an exciting new development in youngballymun’s Ready Steady Grow service. The PCPSP was designed by M. Angeles Cerezo, Professor of Psychology at the University of Valencia, Spain. She established the first Irish base of the PCPSP in Jobstown, where it has been running successfully since 2001.
At the heart of PCPSP is the recognition that parenting is a complex, challenging task and that parents and children should be supported from the outset to develop mutually enjoyable relationships which promote the baby’s optimum development.
The PCPSP will be available to all Ballymun parents and babies aged 3-18 months. The programme will be delivered by a multidisciplinary group of 12 local professionals, 10 of whom are public health nurses and 2 from speech and language and Marte Meo therapy backgrounds. The team will deliver the programme on a rota system of 4 team members per day.
We have just finished a very intensive training with Prof Cerezo who is making sure we have an in-depth understanding of each facet and step of this highly structured, well designed programme.
The training process is rigorous and action based, involving small group exercises, role play, and trainee presentations as well as direct teaching. We are very fortunate to be able to get direct observation and practice with PCPSP in Jobstown and we’re very grateful to the team and parents there for facilitating us.
The PCPSP journey starts with the parent/s and baby’s introductory visit with the programme coordinator soon after the baby is born. Then they join the programme, coming for a total of 6 visits when the baby is aged 3-18 months. During each visit, the baby’s development is tracked in great detail and the parent is supported to develop a sensitive relationship with the baby through the approach of “wait, watch and wonder”, seeing the world through the baby’s eyes.
There is time for the parent/s to talk through any concerns they have and to get information and guidance on how best to support their baby’s psychological, physical and emotional development. The team also takes time to tune in to the parent’s own personal needs as “minding the minder” is central to the PCPSP ethos.
As a group of trainees, and soon to be team colleagues, we have enjoyed our deepening understanding of infant development and how it is so powerfully shaped by parenting practices.
The PCPSP, building on the existing HSE baby development clinics, offers a high quality, individually tailored service in a non judgmental way, which values and empowers parents. Importantly it is a framework to guide effective parenting practices, address difficulties and support baby and toddler development.
Co-working with local statutory and community services, the PCPSP gives the motto “tús maith, leath na h-oibre” (a good start is half the work) a new reality in Ballymun.
Mary Fanning - Coordinator:PCPSP
