Description

GROUP CONSULTATION

“I was prompted to offer the MTIM in a care team meeting after a worker did not think of other reasons for a young child’s behaviour. Going to the childcare centre to observe the child could help understand her unmet needs and why the behaviour is happening at childcare.” Family Violence Worker

MTIM Overview

To be able to effectively support to infants and young children and provide a responsive early intervention, professionals need to be able to step into their world, to see what it looks like, to sense how it feels, and to understand their needs.

Relational observation (RO) is an approach that centres the infant’s experience and their voice, so that this can be included in matters that concern them. However, RO skills are not routinely taught in clinical training, even though they are an expected competency in infant mental health (IMH). Developed to address this gap, the Meeting the Infant Model© or MTIM is an interactive and observation method for professionals working in IMH and/or early intervention looking to enhance their observational skills to support therapeutic evaluation and planning.  Designed to provide a comprehensive description of an infant’s individual capacities, abilities, and strengths in relation to the quality of caregiving experiences and context of the caregiving environment, it shifts away from being a diagnostic/assessment tool. Instead ‘meeting’ infants in situ is privileged, so that we can briefly enter their world to better understand their experiences, relationships, and understand their needs. This is especially important when supporting infants who have complex experiences of early life adversity or co-occurring developmental differences.

To ensure infants stay in view, the Infant Capacities Observation Wheel© (ICOW) and Infant Capacities Observation Tool© (ICOT) capture and organise descriptive information recorded during observation that is essential, but often missing. This information is needed to inform comprehensive therapeutic planning. The MTIM© is underpinned by trauma-informed and neuro-affirming principles and aims to provide a culturally sensitive and family-centred approach to early intervention.

The structure of the training program reflects different needs and preferences for various practitioners working in IMH with 3 levels of the course available. Unlike other courses structured for learners to ‘consume’ the theories and skills in a concentrated period of time but leaving unprepared for everyday practice, the MTIM© training intentionally builds in different types of skills practice. This means professionals can practice and refine skills together with peers as well as real-life applications with the hope trainees leave feeling confident in using the MTIM© that can be taken straight into practice.  After all, infants cannot afford to wait and rely on highly competent professionals to help meet their needs.

Small Group Coaching (12 hours) 4-5 persons

Offered over 5 weeks following level 2. Dates and time TBD

The advanced training course is for those looking for a deeper dive into the MTIM© and ready to take the tools into their practice! Level 3 offers a more expansive learning experience with trainees participating in 5 weeks of small group consultations that run shortly after level 2 concludes. Each week, a trainee will present a case from their own practice and receive direct and individualised feedback from the consultant and group. This means each trainee will have a dedicated time of 60-90 minutes to share about their work, engage in a group feedback process, and receive direct feedback about a specific client or infant. It is a great way to learn from other professionals, the settings they work in, and the infants and families they support.

Level 3 is delivered as weekly, 2-hour closed consultation groups with 4-5 trainees over a 5-week period. The last week focuses on parent feedback, report writing, and reflective practice.

*Trainees must be able to complete an observation using the MTIM© and ICOW©, and ICOT© tools prior to the group starting or within the first 3 weeks (through discussion with Dr Emma).

The benefits of participating in the advanced training include:

Developing nuanced observation skills

Peer learning in closed, interdisciplinary group

Individualised consultancy support

Direct feedback

Group reflective practice

Target audience: This introduction course is suitable for health, allied health, education, and social services professionals who possess a foundational knowledge in child development, early intervention, and infant mental health (0-5 years). Course learners do not need to be currently working with young children but expected to have relevant experience.

Infant Mental Health Competencies: The modules correspond to infant mental health competencies described by various infant mental health frameworks in Australia, UK, and USA. Although different competency models are used around the world, observation is identified as a core competency falling under various domains. Refer directly to your relevant framework.

To learn more about the advanced training course, please email us. It is available only after level 2 has been scheduled.

A certificate of attainment will be provided.

 $300 (ex GST)

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MTIM© FAQ’s

What is the MTIM©?

The MTIM© is a brief, semi-structured observation tool that captures the various capacities of infants and young children whilst contextualising the caregiving conditions and environments. The observations inform therapeutic assessments, planning, reports, and advocacy.

Who is this training for?

The MTIM© was developed for allied health, early education, and social welfare professionals working with children 1-5 years who use observation in their work. Relational infant observation is a specialised skill set used to inform assessments, therapeutic planning, and advocacy efforts. 

The MTIM© can be used by any professional working with children and families who possesses a sound knowledge of child development and adopts a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, and family-centred approach to their work.

How is MTIM© observation different from other observation methods?

The MTIM© is grounded in the psychoanalytic frame of infant observation focused on the subjective experience of young children, understanding their inherent strengths and capacities, and seeing the world from their perspective using an unstructured approach. However, training in traditional infant observation takes a minimum of 12 months and does not equip trainees to apply observation in everyday practice. Other structured observations are commonly diagnostic tools that focus on deficits or identifying problems. These instruments can only be used by some professionals and often do not always privilege the infant experience or used in a culturally safe manner.

What are the main benefits of the MTIM© training?

Develop nuanced observation skills to take straight into your practice

The Infant Capacities Observation Tool allows the inherent strengths and unique capacities of an infant to be highlighted as well as helps to reframe deficits by contextualsing differences within broader systems.

Provides a comprehensive descriptive account that complements and extends other assessments, clinical reports, and case formulations.

Elevates the voice and experiences of infants in matters that concern them and in places that lack the ability to ‘hear’ them.

Increases ability to ‘think with’ not just ‘think about’ infant subjectivity

Upholds the rights of the infant.

Deepens reflective practice that holds the infant in mind in systems that struggle to.