Author Archives: Valerie

Celebrating Excellence: Children’s Services Planning Team Recognized for Outstanding Contributions

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At this year’s SPPG Recognition and Awards event, the Children’s Services Planning Team was celebrated for its exceptional work in supporting the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP). The team received multiple commendations for initiatives that have made a real difference to children, young people, and families across the region.

Driving Success Through Collaboration

The team was highly commended under the Partnership and Driving Success category for its work on The Youth Wellness Web. This innovative online platform provides young people with easy access to mental health and wellbeing resources, empowering them to find support when they need it most.

“The Youth Wellness Web is about giving young people the tools to take control of their wellbeing. It’s a collaborative effort that reflects our commitment to listening and responding to their needs,” said a spokesperson from the Children’s Services Planning Team.

Explore the Youth Wellness Web

Innovation in Data Intelligence

The team was also highly commended in the Innovation in Data Intelligence category for its Interactive Mapping and Performance System. This system represents a significant step forward in how data is used to inform planning and service delivery for children and families. By visualizing key indicators and trends, the platform enables decision-makers to target resources effectively and respond to emerging needs with precision.

Learn more about CYPSP Mapping Tools

Breaking Down Barriers with the Translation Hub

In addition, the team’s Translation Hub was recognized under the Excellence and Outstanding Performance category. This initiative ensures that vital information and resources are accessible to families whose first language is not English. By providing translated materials and culturally sensitive communication, the hub promotes inclusivity and equal access to services, strengthening support for diverse communities.

Access the Translation Hub

Commitment to Children and Families

These achievements highlight the unwavering commitment of the Children’s Services Planning Team to improving the lives of children and young people across the region. Their work demonstrates how collaboration, creativity, and data-driven approaches can lead to meaningful change and better outcomes for families.

“These projects show what can be achieved when we work together with a shared vision for children and young people. Congratulations to everyone involved,” said Tracey McCaig, Chief Operating Officer.

Congratulations to Bronwyn, Valerie, Louise, Sharon and Yvonne

Western Area FYI – Issue 20 – July 2025

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Your FYI is a monthly round up of all things family support and early intervention / prevention across the Western trust and beyond.

Download Issue 20

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)

If you would like to contribute upcoming consultations, training, articles, or events that practitioners from the community, voluntary or statutory sectors within the Western Trust will find useful please contact:

Dr Priscilla Magee – Mobile  07880723076     priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net

Paul Sweeney – Mobile  07387259117     paul.sweeney@westerntrust.hscni.net

Focusing on Families Survey

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The Focusing on Families survey is your chance to share your views on how family support services in Northern Ireland can best meet the needs of children, young people and families.

If you are a child, young person, parent/carer or practitioner who cares about family support services in Northern Ireland, we want to hear your views!

This short survey is being conducted by Stats & Stories for the Children’s Social Care Reform Programme and covers five key themes:

  1. The purpose of family support services
  2. The values that should guide them
  3. The types of support that matter most
  4. Ideas for a future family support model
  5. How support services can make a difference to families

The Focusing on Families survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. We encourage you to provide honest feedback. Your feedback will help shape the Family Support Strategy for Northern Ireland, ensuring that services focus on the needs of families.

Please click on the link for the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FocusingonFamilies25

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Donna Kernaghan at donna@statsandstories.co.uk.

Mental Health Data and Outcomes Conference – QUB

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Children’s Services Planning team members Valerie Maxwell, Children Services Planning & Information Manager and Bronwyn Campbell, Lead for the Family Support Hubs Network were delighted to attend and present at Queen’s University Belfast Mental Health Data and Outcomes Conference on Tuesday 20th May 2025 in the Great Hall, along with Strategic Planning and Performance Group colleagues, Gavin Quinn, Head of the Regional Mental Health Service and Martina McCafferty, Mental Health Lead.

 

Gavin opened the conference and provided  context and an overview of the development of the new Regional Mental Health Service and the importance of Data to the Service moving forward.  Martina along with colleagues Hannah Brown, BHSCT and Mary Donaghy, Macmillan provided an update on the Journey of Think Family in NI and the benefits of implementing the model across systems.  they also shared how they were developing data and outcomes across complex systems.

 

Valerie and Bronwyn presented on reporting trends and capturing outcomes over time – Valerie shared information about the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership and how they have implemented an OBA Outcomes planning framework across their infrastructure based on a multi-agency outcomes and indicator framework.  She also shared examples from the CYPSP Information systems including their Interactive Map Dashboards and new NI Outcome monitoring report presenting information at different geographical levels from Northern Ireland level, to Local government District, Trust level data and down to Ward level highlight how the data is used to assess need and also measure population outcomes.

Bronwyn then presented how information is used at Family Support Hub level providing an overview of what Family Support Hubs are and their purpose. She focused down to the 8 Hubs in the WHSCT area and provided information on supporting children, parents and families with their emotional wellbeing and mental health.  Bronwyn was also able to share how unmet need is identified on the ground and fed back up through locality planning groups and outcomes groups for partners to look at how best as a multi-agency partnership they can fill those gaps and meet the needs.  Bronwyn then shared an anonymised case study on one child and mother’s journey and the positive impact and outcomes achieved following support identified by the local hub.

Valerie concluded the presentation by sharing examples of CYPSP Report Cards and Family Support Hub Report Cards.

How are Children & Young People doing in NI

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We have just published our NI outcome monitoring report 2023/24 full of multi-agency population Indicators. Download your copy now at https://tinyurl.com/bdzc52cw

This is a great resource for assessing need, planning services & can be used as evidence for funding opportunities.

This 13th Outcome Monitoring Report shows how children and young people in Northern Ireland are doing in relation to the Government’s eight outcomes and covers the period 2016 up to 2024 (where available) The report presents the information collected against agreed indicators for each outcome, providing trend analysis over time and comparison across geographical sectors.  It also identifies Rights Based UNCRC Articles related to the indicators.

This report will be kept as a live report under the publications page on the CYPSP website with information being updated as it becomes available.