Supporting the bond between a parent or caregiver and their baby is one of the most effective ways to ensure long-term mental health for both.
The Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) is here to provide targeted, specialist help for anyone finding it difficult to understand or connect with their infant.
Funded by Kent County Council (KCC) through the Public Health Grant, the PAIRS service is delivered in partnership with Real Group Ltd, an experienced team of psychologists and psychotherapists dedicated to providing high-quality care to families across the county.
We recognise that while the transition to parenthood is rewarding, it can also be deeply challenging.
The first two years of life are a vital time when a close bond with your baby builds the foundation for their future happiness and confidence. This early connection gives their brain the best possible start for learning and growing.
Together, KCC and PAIRS are committed to creating lasting, positive change for our community.
Our core objectives are to:
We draw on a wide range of psychological therapies, this might include
You can learn more about VIG in the explainer video below.
Our supportive team is made up of trained and experienced psychologists and psychotherapists.
We understand that reaching out for help for you and your baby can sometimes feel daunting. Our clinicians are here to support you with compassion, curiosity, and sensitivity so that you can build a trusting therapeutic relationship, through which you can achieve your goals.
Emma is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist who has worked in child and adolescent mental health for over 20 years. Emma completed Child Psychotherapy training at the Tavistock clinic, and works with children (including infants and pre-school children), adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25, as well as working together with parents.
Emma has worked in private practice for 11 years, implementing clinical interventions with families to support them with a wide range of developmental and psychological difficulties. This has included delivering child psychotherapy in schools, in the UK and Internationally. She also has extensive experience working in leadership positions in the National Health Service (NHS). Emma has previously been a visiting lecturer at the Anna Freud centre and Roehampton University teaching Infant Observation at Masters level.
Sara Roberts is a chartered counselling psychologist with over 15 years working experience in the NHS. Sara is a registered practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a member of the Faculty of Perinatal Psychology (BPS). Sara’s work has included a range of services in the NHS and has worked with a wide range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, stress, eating disorders, PTSD, childhood trauma, relationship difficulties and adjustment and loss. Sara has a special interest in perinatal mental health and working with the transition to parenthood. This includes a particular interest in attachment, early development and the parent/infant relationship.
Sara takes an individualised approach, working in a flexible way to meet the needs and goals of clients and is committed to creating warm, safe and supportive therapeutic relationships.
Sarah is a senior educational psychologist with over 10 years experience working within a local authority and 20 years experience in the education sector. Her interests lie in positive psychology approaches and looking at the conditions required for children and adults to
flourish.
Sarah has worked extensively with pre-school children and their parents/carers. She has an interest in understanding the contribution of strong parent-infant attachment and attuned relationships on the education and wellbeing of children when they reach primary and secondary school age.
Sarah is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, an accredited practice supervisor (Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors) and professional-level coach (European Mentoring and Coaching Council).
Her current interests include supporting education staff and allied professions wellbeing and development through supervision and coaching, parent-infant relationships, ELSA trainer and supervisor.
Because every family is different, we work alongside a wide team of specialists. This will ensure you receive the right support, when and where you need it most.
Start for Life is a component of the Family Hubs model with a specific focus on the first 1001 days, between conception and the age of two, essential for the healthy development of babies Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.
This focus for support was identified by the Dame Andrea Leadsom Review in 2020 and further articulated in March 2021 in publication of The Best Start for Life: A Vision for the 1,001 critical days The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days.
There are three key areas of government grant funding relating to Start for Life:
1) infant feeding
2) perinatal mental health
3) parent infant relationships
PAIRS is a service commissioned by Kent County Council and delivered by Real Group Ltd.
2026 Real Group. All Rights Reserved.