We offer some people a Parent Infant Interaction Observation Scale (PIIOS) assessment.
This information explains:
- what a PIIOS is
- why we use PIIOS within our perinatal mental health service
- how a PIIOS could help you.
You need to sign a consent form to take part in a PIIOS. We hope this leaflet will provide you with the right information you need to help you make your decision about consenting to taking part.
Please ask your practitioner any questions about PIIOS to help you make sure you would like to take part.
What is PIIOS?
A PIIOS is a three minute video taken of you and your baby being filmed together or playing together.
The PIIOS is used by perinatal mental health teams to:
- help practitioners focus on parent-infant interactions – the way you and your baby respond to one another
- and to help us provide you with interventions that fit best, based on your individual needs and goals.
Your practitioner will use their NHS Trust mobile phone to record the video.
The video is usually taken when you baby is aged between 2-7 months and can be taken at home or in a clinic.
You may feel apprehensive about being videoed; your practitioner will discuss these worries with you.
We believe that every parent is trying to do their best and want to empower you.
The PIIOS was developed and validated by Dr P.O. Svanberg in collaboration with colleagues at Warwick Infant Family Wellbeing Unit and has been shown to be reliable. For more information visit: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/about/centres/wifwu
Why have you offered me a PIIOS?
Our focus is on working with a mother’s mental health as well as the relationship between the parent, family and infant.
We offer a PIIOS assessment to all women who access our service before writing a care plan together.
How might a PIIOS help me?
A PIIOS gives us the opportunity to think about your relationship and communication with your baby.
It will give us an opportunity to offer early interventions to support you and your baby’s development.
Here is a comment from one parent and one professional about how PIIOS helped them:
I was worried about being videoed, I already felt bad in myself and worried I might feel worse. However it was reassuring that whilst I was recovering from depression staff were also thinking about my baby. From this feedback I was offered some baby massage sessions and began to speak more about my feelings and it all helped me.
From a mum
When I feed back to mums I focus on the positives first and then any areas they might need to work upon. Mums have taken these points on board and worked with me on these areas. The mums seemed to know what they need to work upon and I hope they see me as helping them develop. PIIOS really helps me to capture where a mum and baby are when they start working with us, at 7 months it’s lovely to repeat and show a mum how far they have come with their baby.
From a staff member
Do I have to participate?
We understand that being recorded can be uncomfortable for some people at some times. Please be assured that our intention in using the PIIOS screening measure is to help parents and babies develop.
It is your choice to take part in a PIIOS. You do not have to consent. You can decide not to take part.
If you do not consent, or withdraw your consent at any time, you will still receive support from our perinatal mental health service.
Changing your mind about taking part
If you decide you would like to take part in a PIIOS but then change your mind, you have the right to stop the video recording at any time.
How will I receive feedback from my PIIOS session?
When we watch the PIIOS video, we use a scale to focus on areas of interaction and how you and your baby are communicating and relating to one another.
We review the film with at least one other PIIOS accredited practitioner and other professionals working with you.
We then discuss with you what is going well and what we might like to focus on together in your care plan.
What happens to the video?
Once the video is taken it will be:
- transferred to a CD
- deleted from the practitioner’s phone
- and stored with your medical notes.
We will keep this recording safe at all times. This video will be treated in line with NHS code of confidentiality and Data Protection Act 2018.
Please read the consent form for further information.
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