This protocol aims to help children’s social workers, Early Help workers and mental health professionals to:

• understand the impact of parental mental ill health on parenting capacity and the child’s development as well as the impact on the child’s own mental health;
• recognise when parental mental ill health may be affecting the care of children or putting them at risk of harm;
• make appropriate referrals for services and support for children and parents;
• work within a multi-agency framework that promotes inter-agency co-operation, good information sharing and integrated service delivery.

The protocol has been agreed by the following services and will be implemented by the following workers:

• Mental health professionals working within the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust
• Family workers and others based in Camden’s Early Help Service
• Social workers based in Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work division.