On the 14th November, NIACRO Caps Project (Child and Parent Support) hosted a networking event for those who work with vulnerable and ‘at risk’ young people within the Southern Trust area. The event was titled, Improving Outcomes For Vulnerable And At Risk Children And Young People.
Held in St. Patricks Trian, Armagh the event was co-hosted by SHSCT and NIACRO in an effort to explore opportunities for cooperative working between statutory, voluntary and community agencies. There were displays from the CAMHS team Southern Health and Social Care Trust, CYPSP, CINI, Family Support NI, Southern Education and Library Board, and the Young Peoples Partnership .
NIACRO chief executive Olwen Lyner, welcomed everyone along and with over 100 people in attendance, a clear interest from practitioners in this area of work was identified.
Olwen spoke of the connection between NIACRO as a wider organisational structure and where Caps fits within it. NIACRO, have had a presence in the Southern trust for 30 + years and are committed to reducing child offending through diverting children and young people to services which help them to make positive changes in their lives.
David Douglas – Assistant Director for Family Support and Safeguarding in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust then spoke on the importance of working together to achieve positive outcomes for young people.
Deena Haydon QUB followed David with an overview of her findings from her PhD on Engaging Young people at risk.
View Deena’s presentation here
Maurice Leeson (HSCB) then closed the first part of the afternoon with an overview of the Family Support Hubs in the Southern Trust and where they fit within the CYPSP structure.
View Maurice’s presentation here
During the afternoon there was an opportunity for attendee’s to network. Over 20 organisations provided stands and small presentations of their work to promote partnership working. Feedback from the event was extremely positive with one attendee commenting,
“I was impressed by the way all the groups were able to explain to me their roles. In doing so I was able to appreciate common areas of interest. Over the course of the event I was able to make quite a few contacts”.PSNI Youth Diversion Officer.
A big thank you to NIACRO and the SHSCT for putting the event together and demonstrating their commitment to partnership working.