Opening times / out of hours opening
- Monday - Friday : 9:00 am - 5:00 am
South West Yorkshire Perinatal Team
We specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of women affected by moderate to severe mental health problems during and after pregnancy. We offer specialist advice about the use of mental health medications during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. We also offer pre-conception advice for women planning a pregnancy who have concerns about their mental health.
We offer specialist treatments that can help you and your baby’s bond. Why would someone choose the service? If you are reading this, either you or a loved one is probably struggling at a time which is very important for you and your family. Often people can feel shame and guilt about asking for help, or fear that their baby will be removed from their care.
We would like you to know that it is OK to ask for help at this time and that you will not be judged for contacting us. You might be screaming inside but having to put on a brave face to the world, to let everyone else think you are fine. You are probably suddenly feeling very different from your normal self, and not know where to turn, who to ask for help, or where to go. You might be fearing for your and your baby’s future and safety.
You might be wanting to run away, be feeling that you are a terrible mum, or that baby would be better off with someone else. You might be struggling to bond with your baby. You might be anxious about anything and everything, especially about baby. You might be getting terrible pictures and thoughts jumping into your head, which you are frightened of telling anyone about. If reading the above sounds just like you, PLEASE ask for help!
If you are scared or have doubts about what it might be like to get help from our service, please read below some of the following comments from women who we have helped: ‘Home visits really helped. Fast, compassionate – non-judgemental support’ ‘I got the help I needed’ ‘I think that the service has really helped me, and I feel that I would not be where I am today without the help and support I have had.’ ‘Excellent service. Highly recommend.’ ‘It was absolutely amazing! I can’t thank then enough.’
Age range / who can access the service
Pregnant women and those with babies up to 2yrs of age experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems aged 18yrs and above. We can only accept referrals for someone under 18yrs of age if they are also open to CAMHS.
Key support offer
- Psychological and/or diagnostic formulations to enable insight, recovery and person-specific treatment packages
Medication - Nursing care
- Psychological interventions
- Physical health care and liaison with primary care
- Occupational functioning
- Family and couples’ interventions and support for carers
- Support with adherence to the prescribed medication and to other aspects of the care plan.
- Social Interventions to maximise social role functioning
- Solihull approach to ensure maintain equal focus on babies emotional and social needs
- Joint working with care co-ordinators for existing service users
- Maternal emotional wellbeing groups
- Psycho-education to women, their families and other agencies
Video Interaction Guidance
Antenatal preparation for motherhood
Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)
| Category | Notes | Yes / No |
| Self Help | including guided self-help e.g. recovery college. | yes |
| Community Based | GP practices, primary care team, live well social prescribing, Voluntary and community sector support. | yes |
| Professional Referral | further info about local clinical teams, accessed by professional referral (SPA, info on CORE AND ENHANCED, IHBT MH Teams). | yes |
Website / Social Media Links
- https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/perinatal-mental-health-team/
Accessibility information for service
We are able to provide interpreting services including different languages and sign language. We offer home visits or all our community buildings are accessible to anyone with additional mobility needs.
Waiting times / triage timescales
For everyone who is accepted into our service, we aim to make contact within 14 days. In an emergency, we would aim to see someone within 4 hours. If someone is planning a pregnancy, we would aim to see them within 28 days.
How to access - self or professional referral
We accept self and professional referral.
Accessment process
Member of our admin team will contact women by phone to arrange an initial appointment with one of our Senior Perinatal Practitioners. This appointment usually takes place over MS Teams but can be arranged in a community venue or someone’s home if there is need for this. At this appointment they will ask about how someone’s mental health is affecting them, about their pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience, previous history of mental health issues and previous support they have accessed. They will discuss together what support the person feels will be most helpful to them.
Key partners
We work closely with maternity and 0-19 services. We can also joint work with other SWYT mental health teams. We work closely with the Yorkshire and Humber Mother and Baby Unit for those requiring inpatient care.
Signposting to services that can offer support if this service can't
Turning Point NHS TT; Wakefield PAIRs Team
