FPSS Family Psychological Support Service

FPSS: Family Psychological Support Service

Specialist psychological support around birth, improving family outcomes, strengthening maternity teams.

How can we help?

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Helping organisations to make measurable impact

"The service stands out in the health and care system by demonstrating a new and innovative way to provide support in a truly person-centred way."
- Testimonial from an NHS Commissioner

Support at each step

Before birth, we can help with fear of childbirth (tokophobia), anxiety about the birth, and the impact of previous trauma, whether that comes from a past birth or from other life experiences. We also support parents who are pregnant again after a loss or a difficult birth.

Around the time of birth and afterwards, we can offer a post-birth conversation with a qualified psychotherapist when an experience has been traumatic, along with support for recovery from birth trauma, bereavement and baby loss, postnatal depression, anxiety and other mental health difficulties that can follow.

Every family is first met by a Wellbeing Navigator, an experienced mental health practitioner who takes time to listen, helps shape the support that will be most useful and remains a familiar point of contact throughout. Where therapy is needed, it is delivered by accredited clinicians using evidence-based approaches including trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, counselling and couples' therapy.

We support the whole family, including partners, children and grandparents, because a difficult maternity experience rarely affects just one person.

Why this can make a difference now

FPSS can be put in place now, without waiting for longer-term workforce changes. It gives families timely access to specialist support and eases the pressure on midwifery teams. Midwives are often asked to provide psychological support alongside their clinical work. When qualified mental health professionals are part of the maternity pathway, midwives can focus on the care they are trained to give, knowing that families are well supported, with clear links into the most appropriate provision where indicated.

Why independence matters

We are independent of the NHS Trusts that provide maternity care. After a difficult experience, some families find it hard to seek help from the same organisation that cared for them, and an independent service can give them the space to speak openly. We can also offer impartial guidance if a family is going through a complaint, inquest or review, helping them understand the process and feel supported along the way. Our independence works alongside NHS teams, not apart from them, and it can help rebuild the trust and communication that good care depends on. It also means maternity staff can talk to someone outside their own team and organisation when they need support themselves.

For commissioners and maternity leads

We are working with commissioning groups to extend this support to more families. The service is flexible and can be shaped around the needs of your local population and the provision you already have in place. If you are a commissioner, a Director of Midwifery or a maternity lead, please get in touch to find out how the service works and how it could be built for your area.

FPSS

Specialist psychological support around birth, improving family outcomes, strengthening maternity teams.

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