Help needed!

[LeilaB]

I wonder if anyone can help?

My name is Leila and as well as working at Great Ormond Street Hospital I am beginning my child psychotherapy training at the Tavistock Clinic. A requirement of this NHS training course is to observe a baby and mother (or father) for 1 hour per week for 2 years. The purpose is to observe the development of the baby and to train me in observation skills.

It is important that I observe a very new-born baby, which means that I am looking for a baby due in October or November and living in North London.

I wonder if anyone can help or has any suggestions?
Thank you
Leila

Bump

Surely the training course you will be undergoing has a means of establishing contact with a family? I don't think it is acceptable professionally to contact a family via an inetrnet site.

My thoughts exactly mears.

There was a similar thread yesterday but op was male.

Unfortunately the course can't put us in touch with families... would be ideal if they did.
The idea is to make initial contact and then speak on the phone, meet and see how both mum and me get on. Of course this requires a lot of good will from someone, but courses like this (psychotherapy, Counselling, Infant Observation, Child Development Research) have always had to rely on good will, kindness and generosity and I am hoping someone will understand this...

I do understand Leila but still feel this is definitely not the way to contact families.

Agree mears. I dont understand how a course that requires you to make such a close observation of a family, makes no provision to find contacts in a safe manner, for both students and the family study.

Hi There,
Rather than the net have you tried to contact a family through either a midwife or health visitor? Personally I would feel much happier if I thought somebody had tried that approach & then the health professional could vet you through your college etc! Surely that is a much more professional approach if you are expecting people to let you into their homes! Have to say find it unusal that your college does not arrange some kind of intial contact for you. I work in the health service & most reputable colleges make intial contact for their students & then let things develope from there. Good luck with your studies though. x

Hello all,
I feel as though there are a few things I need to say in addition to the ads I have placed on this website, in response to recent comments about me and others looking for help finding families.
Firstly, I am doing this course at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, a very reputable psychotherapy centre in the country, with a highly regarded international reputation.
Secondly, I think that it is very upsetting to me and mothers who may be interested in replying that we are being risky, and that I am being unprofessional. The fact is that I was using this website merely to make initial contact with mothers. Of course all checks and references are discussed and passed on. I have very thorough CRB checks which allow me to work on my own with young, vulnerable children and their families, which I already do (same checks midwives, doctors, health visitors have). I also have references from my tutors and work which I go through personally with mothers who are interested in helping with this when we meet.
As for the safety of the observer, this is obviously very carefully thought about and there are clear guidelines on helping minimise risk which are followed by all other health professionals who visit people in their homes.
I did not think it was necessary to state all this in my initial posting as it should be clear from the fact that I work at Great Ormond Street Hospital and am training at the Tavistock. Anyone who is generous enough to reply can also e-mail me and ask for any additional information they like.
I have of course also contacted my local midwife and doctor's surgery who are helping me by informing expectant mothers-but felt another good way of getting in touch initially with mothers was through this site.
I also feel that many of the comments I have seen will put people off and make it more difficult for me and others to complete training and so help children and families in need. The fact is that if anyone needs the help of a child psychotherapist, that psychotherapist will have done a course like mine in the same way as I and others are.
I felt I had to explain these things because it seemed very harsh being accused of being ?unprofessional? and my course being ?not reputable?, I hope people will understand this and not blame me for ranting on a little!

Hi Leila -

i can't help as not pregnant and in wrong area...

i take your comments on board.....but the reason for people being a little taken aback, in my opinion, is that you have not given a last name, a contact person at the course..

..you didn't mention CRB checks initially...or do a link to the course / tutor/ references etc...nor do you give an e-mail address ...

not everyone knows the Tavistock clinic or trust

and you are asking for a 2 year commitment.....!

why not post on non member/ media requests , with a fuller and more involved description.....?

I don't think you are unprofessional, you are obviously very passionate about what you do....and really looking forward to getting stuck in....

I don't see anything sinister or alarming in leila's request at all. Mumsnet is quite a famous resource for all things baby related - a post on its pregnancy board is an entirely logical way of making initial contact with prospective parents.

I'd imagine that only a very few people would consider agreeing to be observed for an hour a week for two years - that's a big commitment - so it makes sense that Leila would want to contact as many people as possible, to increase her chances of finding a willing participant in time for the beginning of her course.

I also see your point, Leila, and I have heard of the Tavi, but was also very surprised that they wouldn't do any 'recruitment' of willing volunteers for you - I think it's a must for your sort of course and would actually get a far better 'return' for you in the first place.