Want to work in mother and baby unit or similar

[HedgeHogFoxBadger]

I am thinking of how I can change my career for. I work in a preschool, have always worked in childcare. Am level 3 qualified and level 3 SEN qualified. I would love to work in a mother and baby unit, helping mums with their babies. I am interested in mental health but have no qualifications in this. I don’t know how to go about it or if I’m being unrealistic!

[Abbccc]

How about becoming a foster carer for young mums with babies?

[BadgertheBodger]

Mother and baby units have a role called nursery nurse, might be worth looking into? If you wanted to nurse on a unit like that you’d need a degree to become a mental health nurse

[HedgeHogFoxBadger]

Yes I was looking into nursery nurses on units but have no idea where I would start. I’m ok Colchester and single mum to 3 children.
Foster carer for young mums and babies? What would that involve? I have a 5 yr old and wouldn’t want to disrupt her

[june2007]

Fostering a mother and baby would be very tough. (first you would need a spare room.). You can contact your council for info on this but with 3 children of your own could you give the time/resource.

Good luck with the mum an baby unit. Do you have experience of family work? Or cp work? I imagine the jobs will be very competative. (Family work ones normally are.)

[HedgeHogFoxBadger]

Hi I dont think fostering would be for me at this stage of my life, especially with my own 2 teenagers and 5 yr old.
I have experience of nannying.

[MaybeDoctor]

I think that there is quite a big jump from working in childcare to working on a mother and baby unit, where women will be at a very high level of need. You might need to bridge that gap by doing something with mothers/babies in the community first, for example family support worker or working on a health visiting team. It will be as much about working with the mother as working with the baby, which is quite a different skillset. Volunteering, such as Homestart or breastfeeding peer support could be another way to acquire those skills. Hope that helps.