Author Archives: Valerie

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.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance

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The Parent Participation Project at Parentline NI recently brought together parents and professionals to explore the issue of School Avoidance in a collaborative and engaging way looking at how we can all work together to support children who are experiencing Emotionally based school avoidance.

After discussions with families who voiced concerns about this issue and the challenges parents and children face in accessing appropriate support, it was decided that a joint effort between parents and professionals would be beneficial for further exploration.

Engaging with parents from the Anxiety Based School Avoidance (ABSA) Peer Support Group was crucial. Their insights through lived experience and discussing what they have found supportive helped to shape the outline of the day.

Presenters included 3 parents with lived experience, an education welfare officer from the Education Authority sharing parent to school engagement, the vice principal of Blessed Trinity College sharing best practice, Strive Ni sharing support and strategies and Children in Northern Ireland’s Head of Policy sharing key insights in relation to lobbying government. Nine organisations including The Children’s Law Centre, Strive Ni, Eden Consultancy, Action For Children Family Support Hub, Education Authority, Parentline Ni, Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools, ABSA Peer Support Group and The Parent Participation Service hosted information stands around the room on the day.

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Outcomes

It was very much the tone of the day that this was a great starting point for further exploration and collaboration. Opportunities were provided for networking and delegates were seated in a way that provided for networking and further collaboration.

Since the event a number of parents and organisations have got in touch to be involved with the next event planned for Spring 2025.