Mother and Baby Unit Family Fund: terms and conditions

2. Introduction

The MBUFF is designed to help partners/ fathers/ main carers, in addition to existing children up to school leaving age (16) offset the cost of traveling to and from a regional Mother and Baby Unit when visiting a woman being treated there for perinatal mental illness. This is to facilitate support for the woman and baby in the unit, support continued family bonding and allow staff in the unit to work with the family group.

Family-centred care is core to the delivery of perinatal mental health services. The Mother and Baby units support this ethos by supporting women's mental health needs whilst continuing to support them in caring for their baby. This Fund supports these aims through the provision of practical support to enable partners/ fathers/ main carers to visit and support the mother and baby, maintain family bonds and to receive help for themselves, whilst a mother and baby are receiving care within a Mother and Baby Unit.