External resources and guidance

In this section of our website, you will be able to find links to documents in relation to maternity and perinatal mental health services (e.g. guidelines, policies, reports, etc.) produced by external organisations (including other NHS bodies). This page is divided into sub-pages for Maternity & Early Years and Perinatal Mental Health. Additionally, the following may be of interest:

The documents listed below are relevant to both areas. Further documents have been divided into sub-sections for Maternity and Early Years and Perinatal Mental Health.

If you have any comments about these pages or you would like us to consider documents/links for inclusion, please contact Jayne Price on jayne.price4@nhs.net

Maternity and early years

Document title

Authorising organisation/author

Year of publication
National Maternity Review – Better Births NHS England 2016
The Future of Child Health Services: New Models of Care Nuffield Trust 2016
Each Baby Counts – Key Messages from 2015 Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) 2016
Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care MBRRACE – UK 2014
National Health Visiting Service Specification 2014/15 NHS England 2014
The 1001 Critical Days – The Importance of the Conception to Age Two Period (A Cross-party Manifesto) Andrea Leadsom MP, Et Al 2013
Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy – Quick Reference Guide National Health Service 2012
Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy National Health Service 2012
Guidelines for the Management of HIV Infection in Pregnant Women British HIV Association 2014 (interim review)
All Babies Count – Prevention and Protection for Vulnerable Babies National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) 2011
Supporting Families in the Foundation Years Department for Education and Department of Health 2011
Saving Mothers’ Lives – Reviewing Maternal Deaths to Make Motherhood Safer: 2006 – 2008 Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2011
Healthy Child Programme – Pregnancy and the First Five Years of Life Department of Health 2009
National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services – Maternity Services Department of Health 2004

Perinatal mental health

Document title

Authorising organisation/author

Year of publication
The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health The Independent Mental Health Taskforce to the NHS in England 2016
Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health NHS England 2016
Five Year Forward View for Mental Health – one year on NHS England 2017
Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health – Quality Standard The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2016
Specialist Health Visitors in Perinatal & Infant Mental Health: What They Do and Why They Matter Health Education England 2016
Improving Access to Perinatal Mental Health Services in England – A Review NHS Improving Quality 2015
Falling Through the Gaps: Perinatal Mental Health and General Practice Centre for Mental Health, Royal College of General Practitioners, Boots Family Trust 2015
Perinatal Mental Health Services – Recommendations for the Provision of Services for Childbearing Women Royal College of Psychiatrists 2015
The Costs of Perinatal Mental Health Problems Centre for Mental Health and London School of Economics 2014
Closing the Gap: Priorities for Essential Change in Mental Health Department of Health 2014
Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health: Clinical Management and Service Guidance The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2014
Bi-polar Disorder: Assessment and Management – Clinical Guideline The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2014
Service Standards: Third Edition – Perinatal Community Mental Health Services Quality Network for Perinatal Mental Health Services and Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016
NHS Standard Contract for Specialised Perinatal Mental Health Services (In-Patient Mother and Baby Units and Linked Outreach Teams) – 2016 NHS England 2016
 Specialist Mental Health Midwives – What They Do and Why They Matter  Royal College of Midwives (RCM), National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Maternal Mental Health Alliance  2013
Guidance for Commissioners of Perinatal Mental Health Services; Volume Two: Practical Mental Health Commissioning Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health 2012
Prevention in Mind – All Babies Count: Spotlight on Perinatal Mental Health
 National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC 2012
Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Parents and Children During the Perinatal Period: An Introduction to Behaviour Change Interventions National Childbirth Trust 2012
Fathers’ Roles in Perinatal Mental Health: Causes, Interactions and Effects National Childbirth Trust 2011
Standards for Mother and Baby Inpatient Units: Fifth Edition Quality Network for Perinatal Mental Health Services and Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016
Management of Women with Mental Health Issues during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2011
Community Based Perinatal Mental Health Assessment Department of Health 2011
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) – Perinatal Positive Practice Guide National Health Service 2009
Evidence Based Guidelines for Treating Bipolar Disorder (Revised Second Edition) – Recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology Consensus Group of the British Association for Psychopharmocology 2016
New Horizons Towards a Shared Vision for Mental Health – Consultation Department of Health 2009