Dear ,

 

The ACP has organised  fortnightly supervision groups for supervisors to offer them a reflective space to think about the issues that are emerging as we move to online working with children, young people and their families. Experienced members of the profession have offered their time free of charge, as has the ACP. This means we have been able to offer these free of charge. A huge effort from everyone has meant that we have 18 supervision groups off the ground. We  were only able to offer these groups to supervisors as our resources are limited. The idea is that the learning from these groups will be passed on into supervision of all members. The ACP will also gather together the ideas and issues that are emerging from these groups and will feed back to the whole membership so that all members will benefit from the thinking emerging from these groups. 

A huge thank you to Kate Robertson, who made all this happen, to the members who responded so generously by offering their time to run these groups and to those members who have got in touch with us subsequently which means we have been able to offer specialist groups, for example, working with Looked After Children.  Also a huge thank you to Jessica and Lydia in the ACP office who rose to the challenge and worked tirelessly to make this happen in a very short space of time. 

 

We are adding to the resources for members and for the public (young people and parents/carers) on the website, including reading that may help with thinking about the opportunities and challenges of working remotely. If you have ideas of material we could add to this please let us know. You may like to look at the resources for the public: as one member has noted, they are a valuable source of information which can help us to shape different aspects of our clinical work in these peculiar times. I think the different focus (from the guidance for us as professionals) on where and what the anxieties are, in our patients and their parents/carers can help us to adjust our psychoanalytic stance where needed.

 

We are aware that members may have some employment issues arising out of the current situation, in particular relating to the provision and guidance around working safely/ PPE; potential redeployment into other roles; and home working. You should not be being placed in a position where you do not feel you can work safely. For those working in the NHS, the NHS Employers website has helpful and reasonable advice for trusts to follow. But it may be that some trusts are behaving unreasonably. We are keen to hear from you about how employers are managing and communicating with staff during this period. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the ACP office and we will follow them up via the Chair of the Employment Standards Group, and the ACP Unite reps. 

 

This is a stressful time for everyone: adults, children and babies. The Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) in Lambeth have developed resources to help babies, young children and their parent/carers during the COVID-19 crisis. This includes advice written with Lambeth Early Action Partnership for parents and carers on ways they can support babies and young children with their feelings.  The multi-disciplinary NHS PAIRS team includes three Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists who are offering parent-infant psychotherapy via video and phone calls, and are also supporting the local 0-4 workforce (midwives, dieticians, health visitors etc.) through reflective practice sessions via video link. Contact: PAIRS_Lambeth@slam.nhs.uk

Please get in touch via the ACP office with details of your own work or that of others which can showcase CAPPT adapting and/or might be helpful to others in the current crisis.

We are continuing to meet weekly to consider issues affecting the profession, to develop our guidance and to support members. Please get in touch if you have queries, concerns or thoughts that could be helpful to others.

 

 
Kind regards,

 

COVID-19 Response Team 

Marie Bradley (Director of Scientific Development)
Francesca Calvocoressi (Director of Professional Standards)
Lydia Gilbert (Member Engagement and Administrative Officer)
Jo Goldsmith (Chair of Ethical Practice Group)
Eve Grainger (Lead of Employment Standards Group)
Leslie Ironside (Lead of Independent Practice Group)
Jessica Jarmon (Business Manager)
Jason Kaushal (Director of Training)
Julia Mikardo (Unite the Union)
Isobel Pick (Chair)
Kate Robertson (Vice-Chair)

Janet Shaw (Registrar)
Nick Waggett (CEO)