Located in Wellington, Telford, Clairmont is our female-only Family Assessment Centre with expertise in aiding women facing significant mental health challenges and survivors of domestic abuse.

We provide a stepping stone for mothers recovering from post-partum psychosis or enduring mental health issues, often accompanied by additional needs like learning difficulties or substance misuse. With space for five families, Clairmont offers a welcoming environment with ensuite bedrooms, communal spaces, a nursery, laundry facilities, and a secure garden.

Our placements typically range from 14 to 24 weeks, ensuring a thorough assessment process at a gentle pace that allows families to heal.

The Clairmont Family Assessment Centre team recently worked positively with a mother and baby, the child’s grandparents and teams of professionals working with the family to create a co-parenting recommendation which has been welcomed by all involved.

The mother, Ann*, has an extensive history of mental health needs and has previously been admitted to the hospital many times. When her child, *Jamie, was born, the team from Clairmont visited her in hospital before a parenting assessment process began and they then moved to the Centre from a mother and baby unit.

Jamie’s grandparents were involved from the beginning, regularly visiting Clairmont. Sometimes these visits took place as a family of four and at other times, to give Ann time to focus on her mental health, the grandparents spent time with Jamie alone. This also helped form a positive attachment between Jamie and his grandparents, who regularly took him out of the Centre to enjoy time in the community.

While living at Clairmont, Ann was supported to develop healthier coping mechanisms – with positive support from the local perinatal team – for her emotions and used the support available around her.

Jamie developed a secure attachment with Ann, who was at that time able to continually meet all of his care needs. However, concerns remained that Ann’s mental health could, over the longer term, deteriorate once again and that may, at times, cause disruptions to
the family’s life.

Jamie’s grandparents had played a significant role in his life and provided Ann with support. They were fully committed to supporting Ann to raise Jamie and had formed a lovely relationship with him. The thought was that growing up, this consistency would play an important role in Jamie’s emotional development, particularly at those times when Ann may not be well enough to meet all of his needs.

The team at Clairmont developed a transition plan which gave Ann time to transition home with her baby, as well as having time on her own while Jamie spent time with his grandparents.

Mental health support workers, the team from Clairmont and a social worker checked daily with Ann and the grandparents, contacting them via phone, video call and in-person visits both as a family and individually.

The Clairmont team recommended mental health services work together with Jamie’s grandparents to help increase their knowledge and understanding of how they could best support Ann on a daily basis and when she was in crisis. They also recommended Ann and Jamie should return home with a co-parenting agreement with the grandparents.

Being cared for in this ‘inclusive’ way will become the norm for Jamie and he will not know any different. The team felt this would help reduce any negative connotations of his time away from his mother should Ann become unwell and also reduce any fear Ann might have of reaching out for support at times of need.

 

 

 

If you require a family assessment, Keys is here to support you.

Contact us to begin your journey towards the best possible outcomes for your family and children. For Referrals or initial discussion:

Call: 01684 577496

Email: [email protected]