Walsall spotlight on infant crying

An important event to raise awareness of infant crying, and how parents and carers can be supported to help them cope, is being held in Walsall next week.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is supporting the UK’s second annual ICON week.

Taking place from 26-30 September, it aims to show coping mechanisms for this challenging situation to prevent serious injury, illness and even death of young babies because of Abusive Head Trauma that happens when someone shakes a baby.

The evidence-based programme consists of a series of brief interventions that reinforce the simple message making up the ICON acronym:

I – Infant crying is normal and it will stop

C – Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop

O – It’s OK to walk away for a few minutes if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you

N – Never, ever, shake or hurt a baby

The Trust’s Safeguarding and Maternity team along with Walsall Safeguarding Partnership will be holding a display stand for patients, staff and anyone who is interested in finding out more information around ICON on Monday 26 September, 9am-1pm in the antenatal clinic atrium.

A series of webinars will also take place throughout the week with speakers from the military, police, primary care, parent ambassadors, health visitors, and the education sector. These are open to everyone, and the access details are here: https://iconcope.org/iconweek2022/.

Walsall Healthcare’s Named Midwife for Safeguarding Children, Tracey Tolley, said: “It is an important part of our role working with families that we raise awareness around ICON.

“We must start by having early conversations around what it is like to be a new parent and the feelings and changes that come with this. Becoming a parent is a truly amazing time but equally it can be a time that can cause anxiety and a feeling of being overwhelmed.

“It is crucial that families are supported to seek support if they are feeling overwhelmed and they should be encouraged to talk to their midwife, health visitor or GP. By having these early, meaningful conversations throughout the pregnancy will encourage parents to seek support sooner.”

Webinar Programme:

All webinars will take place over Microsoft Teams and use the same link: https://bit.ly/iconweek2022 

Monday 26 September

10am-11am

• Sue Anslow, ICON Programme Manager – welcome to ICON Week
• Dr Suzanne Smith, Founder of ICON – Introduction and background to ICON

11.30am-12noon

• Jill Broadhurst, Senior Family Support Worker – ICON in the Early Years’ service

2pm-3pm

• Jill Broadhurst, Senior Family Support Worker – ICON in the Early Years’ service

Tuesday 27 September

9.30am-10am

• Jenny Roddy Public Health Specialist Midwife, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust – The progress and embedment of the ICON within maternity service in Leeds

10.30am-11am

• Sara Waters, Health Visitor Team Leader – Health Visitor Delivery of ICON in Manchester

1pm-1.30pm

• Caroline Campbell, Development Health Visitor and colleagues – Health Visitor Delivery of ICON in Staffordshire

4pm-4.30pm

• Claire Bainbridge, Lead Midwife for Safeguarding – ICON within Safeguarding and next steps in North Cumbria

Wednesday 28 September

10am-10.30am

• Dr Bryony Kendall, Named GP for safeguarding, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside – Working with GPs as commissioners to embed ICON

1.30pm-2pm

• GPs – what do you need to know as a primary care clinician?

2.15pm-2.45pm

• Dr Jamie Carter, Consultant Paediatrician – AHT and Legal Complexities

Thursday 29 September

10.30am-11am

• Dr Giles Haythornthwaite, Consultant Paediatrician – Why the Major trauma network supports ICON

11.30am-12noon

• Gaynor Lovatt, Team Leader Burnley Neonatal Unit – ICON in the Neonatal Unit

3.30pm-4pm

• Beth Williams, PSHE Lead Fleetwood High School – Delivering the ICON Message in High School

Friday 30 September

10am-10.30am

• Andrew Ryan, Detective Superintendent Merseyside Police

10.45am-11.15am

• Clare Henderson/ICON in the Military – Health Visitor from Cyprus gives an overview

11.30am-12noon

• Parent Ambassadors talk about ICON

1pm-1.30pm

• Clare Henderson/ICON in the Military – Health Visitor from Cyprus gives an overview

2pm-2.30pm

• Andrew Ryan, Detective Superintendent Merseyside police

3pm

• Final thought and close from Dr Suzanne Smith