Eunice Lumsden
Emeritus Professor
level:PG;top_up:false;international:true;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:false;part_time:true;start_month:September;location:Distance Learning
Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing
Key Facts
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Duration
1 year Part Time
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Level
PostgraduatePG PGCert
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£2,915 (per 60 credits)
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£2,915 (per 60 credits)
Get in touch
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
Updated 17/02/2026
Overview
Infancy is a critical period in a child’s life, during which early experiences can and do shape connections and relationships into adolescence and beyond. The University of Northampton’s Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing is aligned with AIMH, enabling you to develop expertise in the field of infant mental health and wellbeing and offers you the opportunity to engage in critical debate, learning and discussions on the contemporary issues relating to the field.
You will undertake a journey of self-reflection and critical exploration with professionals from a range of different backgrounds. You will be taught by expert researchers and practitioners in the field of infant mental health and wellbeing from a variety of disciplines.
Your tuition fees include membership of AIMH for the duration of the course. This membership includes full access to all of the 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, to 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 completed.
Highlights
- Aligned to the Association of Infant Mental Health (AIMH)
- Allows you to work while studying the infant mental health course
- Available to study 100% online
- Taught from a multi-disciplinary and multi-theoretical perspective
Entry Requirements
To study this infant mental health and wellbeing course, you will need an honours degree, usually at 2:2 or above, from a UK institution or equivalent.
Applications with no first degree but with relevant professional qualifications will be considered.
You must be employed in a relevant setting.
All International and EU students applying for a course with the University of Northampton must meet the following minimum English language requirements for study at postgraduate level:
- Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other band (or equivalent).
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
What You'll Learn
The need for an interdisciplinary course on infant mental health and wellbeing reflects the growing awareness of the crucial role of early childhood internationally and is aligned to the wider policy developments included in the Best Start for Life Offer that is being implemented across England. This programme, which has been aligned to AIMH, a world-leading organisation in this field, will have relevance to practitioners employed in the new family hubs, mother and baby psychiatric units and early help centres. It also addresses the recent development of the NHS Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathways.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing will offer you the opportunity to critically reflect on contemporary issues facing infants and their parents/carers. You will explore concepts such as brain development, attachment theory, the most current cutting edge knowledge on research into the factors impacting on parental and infant health and wellbeing. You will also explore the role of poverty, class and culture in how these shape experiences. These concepts cannot be covered without reflecting on your own journey in life, your own perceptions and conceptions of others. Therefore, so much of this course will be about you, encouraging you to hold the mirror up to yourself and have time and space to reflect on how your values and beliefs impact on your views on infant mental health and wellbeing.
Engaging on the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing is a great opportunity to develop key skills, knowledge and expertise to enhance the lives and outcomes of infants and their families. You will develop key interpersonal skills in engaging and developing relationships with infants, families and parents/carers. By doing so you will have a better understanding of the infant-parent/carer dyad and understand the critical role of attachment.
Students on the infant’s mental health and wellbeing programme come from a range of professional backgrounds, whether this be nursing, midwifery, social work, health visiting, early years, or education to name but a few. Despite your different backgrounds you will all engage in an exciting course which will ensure strong inter-professional, multi-disciplinary and collaborative learning for all students that is aligned to the Interprofessional Education (IPE) agenda. The programme will provide development opportunities for those already working in this area, as well as attracting those looking for future employment, or being employed in, the new employment roles that will emerge in family hubs and mother and baby psychiatric units.
You will be taught by practitioners and academics from a variety of expert backgrounds ranging from child development, early years, midwifery, health visiting, attachment and psychology.
Compulsory Modules
Students examine the latest debates and controversies in mental health and wellbeing and their implications for practice. The contents of this module, by its nature, will vary from year to year depending on the dominant and current discourses at the time. There will be the opportunity for students to consider mental health and wellbeing from a range of professional perspectives.
This module focusses on the complexities of parenting and family life and the support availble through personal and professional communities. Students evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives for promoting positive mental health and wellbeing, including multi professional interventions. Key concepts addressed include contemporary perspectives on the notion of the `family¿, cultural perspectives on parenting and ethical support for parental relationships.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 25/26. The modules relating to the academic year 26/27 will be available from June 2026.
For those of you wishing to complete the single standalone modules as CPD you will receive the same high quality, in depth, analytical and critically challenging teaching that those on the non CPD route.
The primary difference is that you will not be required to complete the assessed items at the end of the modules. This can be particularly appealing to those of you who would prefer to just update their specialist knowledge of infant mental health and well-being, without the pressure of assessment. Whichever route you take, whether it be CPD or non CPD this will be an exciting and challenging course/module.
How will I be taught on the Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing course?
The programme is taught entirely online through on line discussions, critical debates, taught content material, watching of relevant videographic material.
What is a CPD course and what’s the difference from the non CPD route?
The CPD route is almost identical to the PGcert route – the only difference is that students undertaking the CPD route do not undertake the assessments.
Are there any special features on this Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing 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: AiMH UK confirms that Northampton University has utilised the IMHCF (The Infant Mental Health Competency Framework) in the development of the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Practice in Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing 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 baseline understanding of Infant Mental Health and well being. They have the opportunity to be exposed to the latest cutting edge research relating to the developing brain, as well as the critical factors that influence human growth and development. We consider the role of poverty, culture, deprivation, parental risk factors and wider socio-economic issues that influence familial well being.
Fees and Funding
2026/27 Tuition Fees
Fees quoted relate to study infant’s mental health courses in the Academic Year 26/27 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK Part Time: £2,915 per 60 credits
- Distance Learning: £2,915 per 60 credits
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted relate to study infant’s mental health courses in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK Part Time: £2,830 per 60 credits
- Distance Learning: £2,830 per 60 credits
Staff
Claire Clews
Head of Health Professions
Helen Simmons
Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
