Services we provide
An important part of the assessment is parental participation in groups. The group dynamic offers an additional assessment tool in addition to individual work and enables information to be imparted to establish the parents capacity to understand and process information shared within the group.
Freedom Programme for Men and Women
A women only group and a men only group which is a mandatory part of the assessment, using group intervention. This group looks to raise self-esteem, the impact of domestic violence on children and adult victims and is a 'safe space' for families to talk about their experiences and feelings. This programme is also available as an outreach service for external service users.
Mindfulness & Wellbeing
This group is run by our onsite psychologist Wayne Reid and provides a regular space where the resident parents can air and think about any factors that might be affecting their progress and assessment in the unit, and how these might be constructively resolved with the staff and each other. The discussion and analysis of such factors will be based around the concepts of adult attachment and how we re-create patterns of interaction with others based on earlier experiences.
Men's group
Jamma Umoja also runs a Men’s Support Group on a weekly basis which is mandatory. The group looks at a wide range of issues including looking at the role of men in society, being a father, domestic abuse from victim and perpetrators perspective, relationships, and any particular issues that the residents might feel are pertinent. This group is run by Wayne Reid.
Baby Sensory, Baby massage, Messy play & Rhyme Time
We run a child focused messy play and sensory play group for all families to attend on site in our sensory space. The group aids as a teaching and fun group for all to attend. Promoting positive play, interaction stimulation and bonding and attachment between babies/ children and parents.
Parents social activities
Aims to give residents a shared space to feel nurture. Activities include Breakfast club, coffee morning, pamper sessions, movie nights and pilates
Nutrition: Eating as a family
Cooking Sessions Jamma Umoja promotes healthy eating and a healthy living lifestyle. We have a snack trolley which sells healthy snacks and drinks for parents and staff. Support is given to residents to gain an understanding of nutrition, meal planning, appropriate meals for children at different ages and stages, e.g., weaning food, toddler food cooking for a family, ‘food on the move’ – how to manage healthy eating for parents and children on a low budget when out in the community.
Women’s Support Group
Our support group is run by Janet Newart on a weekly basis. This group aims to offer support and relaxation, focusing on reducing stress and mindfulness. This includes reflexology sessions, meditation, pamper evenings and more.
Play Sessions
These are facilitated by Jamma Umoja for the parents and their child/ren on a 1:1 and group basis, using participative techniques and support around understanding the importance of play. These sessions help to strengthen bonds and attachment and support parents in gaining the confidence to play with their baby or child.
Pilates
We run weekly Pilates classes for families and staff. This group helps to support parents to focus on themselves and their own health and wellbeing. Many parents being postpartum are given the opportunity to exercise facilitated by an independent, trained Pilates instructor to focus on post-partum recovery and general wellbeing and health.
Staff Pilates
The staff are also provided with a space to participate in the Pilates classes. We recognise that Working out at work is proven to increase energy, productivity and creativity while reducing stress. The workplace environment improves when employees take advantage of a middle-of-the-day work out by creating mood-boosted workers.
Mental Health Support/ Risk Assessments
At Jamma Umoja, our mental health nurse will sit in with the parents and complete a mental state examination and conduct a personalised mental health risk assessment. This will help us identify the parents’ mental health needs and ways we can support them. Throughout the parenting assessment, parents will receive ongoing mental health keywork sessions, individual and group mental health workshops, as well as referrals/ signposting (psychology, GP, substance misuse etc). Our mental health nurse will also complete medication audits as well as liaise with our local GP practice for any medical reviews if needed.
EYF- Child Development, Bonding, Attachment
Jamma Umoja have members of staff with a background in children’s early years foundations and carry out a variety of child focused activities promoting the bonding and attachment between babies’ children and parents. Focusing on early years development and education. We run regular groups such as circle time, story time, sensory music time.
Online Tapestry
Jamma Umoja have an online tapestry to promote communication between parents and staff, of their child’s journey through placement. Each parent has a log in and can access details about their child’s week and are able to add their own observations and pictures within the online journal. Tapestry documents milestones, activities and achievements for the child and parent weekly This also promotes life story work for all babies and children placed at Jamma Umoja. It is free to access for all families.
Student Placements, The Future of Social Work.
Jamma Umoja are proud to offer student placements to various universities across the country in the case of social workers, (first, second and final year, BA and master's level). We have also offered shadowing placements and NHS midwife and mental health practitoner placements. We take great care in ensuring that students at Jamma Umoja are given direct learning opportunities, and support in their social work or other social care studies and future careers. We hold weekly student groups to promote learning and support the social work and social care industry in training the next generation of workers.
Post Natal Recovery Physical Wellbeing Support
We recognise the importance of post-partum recovery and the impact this has upon anyone who has given birth. At Jamma Umoja we provide post-natal recovery sessions including support with pelvic floor, core strength and alignment as well as mental and physical wellbeing. These sessions are run by our qualified post-natal fitness trainer and facilitated with the input of our mental health nurse.
Stand Alone Services
Jamma Umoja provide a wide range of standalone services, including risk assessments, supervised contacts (in our designated contact centre), domestic abuse work, welfare checks, we also offer the Freedom Programme free of charge to families awaiting assessment or post assessment.