Home Support Services Specialist Clinical Support Baby in the Neonatal Unit

Baby in the Neonatal Unit

The Medical Social Work (MSW) team on the Neonatal Unit provide psychosocial support to families during their baby’s stay on the unit.

MSW strive to support parental wellbeing to allow parents to cope and manage to the best of their ability and build a healthy relationship and bond with their baby.

For longer admissions to the unit (e.g. extreme prematurity) the medical social worker can be a great source of support as they get to know parents and their individual needs and can tailor interventions accordingly. MSW’s carry out psychosocial assessments to determine needs and can provide the following psychological support:

Counselling and regular check ins.

Normalise emotional responses.

Information/advice on sibling support.

Provide you with resources and links in the community.

Promote healthy infant mental health.

Referrals to the NMH specialist perinatal mental health team (mothers only).

Research tells us that admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be very stressful for families; this can be exacerbated by responsibilities at home such as other children, language barriers, lack of family support, families living a great distance from the hospital, previous losses or trauma, IVF journey, financial or relationship worries.

NICU social workers use a trauma informed approach in their work which focuses on safety, transparency, trust, empowerment and collaboration.

We acknowledge that this journey can be extremely difficult and we endeavour to build relationships that are built on trust and respect in keeping with the principles of social work practice.

Medical Social Workers can act as an advocate for the family and offer practical support to families including:

Information on accommodation options for families living outside Dublin.

Information on how to register your baby’s birth.

Information on Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) and Child Benefit.

Provide letters confirming date of birth and gestation for maternity/paternity benefit applications.

Financial support.

Advice on Emergency Medical Cards, Domiciliary Care Allowance/Carers Allowance as appropriate.

Useful Links

Find further information and support from trusted organisations.

The Neonatal Unit https://nmhnicu.ie/neonatal-care/the-neonatal-unit/

Bliss charity, Resources and Parents Podcast www.bliss.org.uk/ & bliss.org.uk/mental-health

IMBA Irish Multiple Births Association www.imba.ie

Irish Neonatal Health Alliance www.inha.ie

Birth registration https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/register/birth/

Citizens Information https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/families-and-children/maternity-benefit/

Contact Details

Email socialworkadmin@nmh.ie

Phone: 01 6373236

Office Hours: Monday – Saturday 7am – 7pm

Any professional working in the hospital can make a referral. Patients can also self refer.