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level: masters top_up: false international: true clearing: false full_time: true part_time: true start_month: September location: Distance Learning

Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing (with Infant-Centred Specialism and Family-Centred Specialism) MA

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  3. Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing (with Infant-Centred Specialism and Family-Centred Specialism) MA

Key Facts

  • Level

    Master'sPG MA

  • Duration

    1 year full time
    2 - 3 years part time

  • Starting

    September

Updated 18/03/2025

Discovery Days

Updated 18/03/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

The MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing is designed to meet the growing need for highly skilled and critically reflective professionals in the evolving landscape of support for infants and families. This course aligns with key international and national initiatives such as the Manifesto for Babies and the Best Start for Life, emphasising early, respectful, and individualised support. The course offers two specialisms: Infant-Centred and Family-Centred. These specialisms allow you to develop expertise in your chosen area while engaging in knowledge exchange and continual professional development.

Highlights

  • Aligned with the Association of Infant Mental Health (AIMH).
  • You can select an Infant Centred Specialism or Family Centred Specialism.
  • Available to study 100% online (Distance Learning).
  • Taught from a multi-disciplinary and multi-theoretical perspective.
  • The course is available full-time and part-time.

Entry Requirements

Applications should:

  • Normally hold an undergraduate degree 2:2 and above.
  • Be currently or recently employed in a relevant setting.
  • Applications with no first degree but with relevant professional qualifications will be considered.

  • The Admissions Policy for the MA In Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing is in accordance with the University’s Admissions; and Equality and Diversity policies; and seeks to recruit to the course students from diverse educational and social backgrounds who have the ability to benefit from and motivation to complete the course. The course welcomes applications from those with a wide variety of educational qualifications and will consider on merit applicants with no formal qualifications.

  • All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) for study at postgraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

     

     

    For International Students, we require IETLS 6.5.

Course Content

  • The program is aligned with the Association of Infant Mental Health (AiMH), providing opportunities for professional growth and alignment with best practices in the field. Students come from diverse professional backgrounds, including nursing, midwifery, social work, health visiting, early childhood, and more. This diversity fosters strong inter-professional, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative learning, aligned with the Interprofessional Education (IPE) agenda. The course aims to enhance the skills of those already working in the field and attract individuals seeking new roles in emerging areas such as family hubs and mother-and-baby psychiatric units.

    The curriculum is delivered by practitioners and academics with expertise in early childhood, midwifery, play therapy, health visiting, attachment, and psychology. This ensures that students receive a comprehensive and well-rounded postgraduate experience, with current research and critical analysis opportunities designed to support the mental health and well-being of infants and families. Your tuition fees include membership of AIMH for the duration of the course. This membership includes full access to AIMH resources (including the latest research and reduced prices for events) as well as access to the CPD framework. You will also be able to, if you wish, submit a portfolio of evidence for assessment by AIMH at the end of the infant mental health course. Successful completion and submission of this portfolio allows you to join the Infant Mental Health Register. Registration fees for AIMH apply after the course has been completed.

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • The MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing comprises five modules and a dissertation. The dissertation is an original piece of research which may be presented in a choice of formats. You will be supported to share your research in journals, online or at conferences.

    • Contemporary Debates in Mental Health and Wellbeing (EYSM003) – 30 Credits.
    • Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing (EYSM004) – 30 Credits.
    • Family Centred approaches (EYSM005) (20 credits) or Infant Centred approaches (EYSM009) – 20 credits.
    • Leadership, Advocacy and Change (EYSM006) – 20 credits.
    • Research Methods (EYSM007) – 20 credits.
    • Dissertation: Family- Centred Specialism (EYSM008) – 60 credits or Dissertation: Infant- Centred Specialism (EYSM010) – 60 credits.

    There is a range of assignment formats across the modules, with an emphasis on application to practice. Assignments include individual and group work and might involve essays, presentations, videos or portfolios. You can tailor assignment titles to your personal and professional interests and explore aspects of infant and family mental health and wellbeing that are relevant to your own professional context. A key element across the course is a culture of knowledge-sharing which enables you to engage with fellow MA students and professional colleagues from around the world.

  • How will I be taught on the MA in Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing course?

    The course is taught entirely online through online discussions, critical debates, taught content material, guest lectures and watching of relevant videographic material.

    What is a CPD course and what’s the difference from the non CPD route?

    The CPD route is available via the first two modules on the MA – the students are taught together, the only difference being that students undertaking the CPD route do not undertake the assessments.

    Are there any special features on this course?

    The special features are that it is taught from by a range of professionals from many disciplines. Student enrolled on the programme also come from a range of professional backgrounds. Furthermore AIMH UK confirms that The University of Northampton has utilised the IMHCF (The Infant Mental Health Competency Framework) in the development of the course for students in practice and addresses key domains at the 3 levels of expertise.

    What will I learn on this Infant Mental Health CPD course?

    Students will learn and be exposed to a wide range of opportunities to develop their understanding of Infant & Family Mental Health and Wellbeing. They have the opportunity to be exposed to the latest cutting-edge, critically considered research relating to the developing brain, as well as the critical factors that influence human growth and development.

Staff

Helen Simmons, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Helen Simmons
Placeholder image for Samantha Weeks, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Infant and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing (with Infant-Centred Specialism and Family-Centred Specialism) MA

Samantha Weeks
Helen Caldwell, Associate Professor in Education

Associate Professor in Education
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Helen Caldwell
Emel Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Emel Thomas

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Discovery Days

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