Author Archives: Valerie

Inspiring young people in Carrickfergus

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The Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) Carrickfergus Locality Planning Group recently facilitated the launch of a local social media Facebook page ‘Carrickfergus Community Education Forum’ to provide a space for agencies to share information about education support services, helpful resources and training opportunities for young people and their parents.

MLA Roy Beggs, Chairperson of the CYPSP Carrickfergus Locality Planning Group supported the development of the support platform for parents. Speaking from the launch Roy Beggs said “School, parents and the local community all working together can reduce Educational under attainment and open up greater life-time opportunities. I hope that the new Facebook page, “Carrickfergus Community Education Forum” will help parents by sharing good advice and by sign-posting to local services.  I hope that it would also highlight adult educational opportunities and assist in establishing regular local Carrickfergus classes outside of the NRC Newtownabbey campus”.

 

Click here to read more about the Carrickfergus Community Education Forum

 

Contact Us:

For further information about the work of the CYPSP Carrickfergus Locality Planning Group contact Gemma Lutton, CYPSP, Northern Health and Social Care Trust on Tel: 028 2563 6615 or by email at gemma.lutton@northerntrust.hscni.net

ACE Conference – Changing Lives: Tackling Adversity in Childhood in Northern Ireland

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At a recent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Conference in Templepatrick, professionals and practitioners from across Northern Ireland were brought together with leading experts to learn more about the potential negative impact of ACEs on children, young people and adults.

Throughout the conference the importance of intervening early to respond to childhood adversities was emphasised. Intervention and support can occur at every age and stage of life.  Participants at the conference heard about the importance of using a trauma informed approach to understand and respond to childhood adversities. Attendees have been encouraged to ensure that giving children the best start in life is at the forefront of all of our work.

Keynote speakers included George Hoskings (WAVE Trust), Professor Mark Bellis (Public Health Wales) Sara Dodds (Scottish Government), Noreen McBride and Colum Benstead (South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust) and Katrina Godfrey (The Executive Office).

Find out more about ACEs – Click here to download the press release from the ACE Conference 

 

Click here to watch the ACE Conference (13 Nov 2017)

 

ACE Conference Keynote Speaker Presentations:

1. Setting the Context for ACE Development in NI – Maurice Meehan, PHA and Kieran Downey WHSCT 

2. Perspectives from Wales – Professor Mark Bellis, Public Health Wales

3. What to do about ACEs after the event – George Hoskings, WAVE Trust

4. An ACEs Perspective from Scotland – Sara Dodds, Scottish Government

5. The South Eastern ACE Pilot Project – Noreen McBride and Colum Benstead, South Eastern HSC Trust 

6. Contributions of the Programme for Government to Building Collaboration and Delivering Good Outcomes

 

ACE Conference Workshop Presentations:

Workshop 1 – South Eastern ACE Pilot Part 1 – Lisa Bunting, Queens University Belfast

Workshop 1 – South Eastern ACE Pilot Part 2 – Mairead Davey, South Eastern HSC Trust

Workshop 2 – Early Intervention Transformation Programme – Astrid Hamilton, Department of Health

Workshop 3 – Contributions of the Infant Mental Health Strategy to Recognising and Responding to ACEs, Public Health Agency and National Children’s Bureau

Workshop 4 – Designing a Service Response – CAWT MACE Project, Carmel McPeake, CAWT and Kieran Downey, Western HSC Trust

Workshop 5 – Lessons Learnt in Education – Walla Walla, Pete McNally, WAVE Trust

Workshop 6 – Contributions of local research to our understanding of ACEs Part 1 – John Devaney, Queens University Belfast

Workshop 6 – Contributions of local research to our Understanding of ACEs Part 2 – Margaret McLafferty, Ulster University

 

Read our summary report card from the ACE Conference by clicking here

The full conference report can be downloaded by clicking here

 

Contact Us:

For further information about the ACE Conference contact Stephanie Thompson, CYPSP at stephanie.thompson@hscni.net 

 

Stengthening relationships between schools at the Annual Ballymena Youth Fair

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Ballymena Locality Planning Group along with Ballymena Learning Together Partnership hosted the Ballymena Annual Youth Fair on 7 November 2017. The event brought together 680 Year 11 pupils from across 6 Post Primary Schools in the area.

Students from Ballymena Academy, Cambridge House Grammar, Cullybackey College, Castle Tower School, Dunclug College and Slemish College attended the Youth Fair.

One young person spoke from the event and said ‘I have enjoyed talking to lots of different people and I have learned lots of new things. I enjoyed all different topics, and was shocked to know the chemicals in a cigarette. I wouldn’t change anything about the youth fair’.

 

Click here to download the report card from the Youth Fair and to find out more about the outcomes of the fair on young people

 

Contact Us:

For further information please contact Selena Ramsey at selena.ramsey@northerntrust.hscni.net or Gemma Lutton at gemma.lutton@northerntrust.hscni.net 

Telephone: 028 2563 6615

 

EITP – Getting Ready for Toddler launch new video

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There are two key changes being introduced universally relating to the delivery of
services for children aged 3+ in their preschool year:-

3+ Health Review: This is a new Health Review being introduced into the pre-school
setting where Health Visitors will work in partnership with children, parents and
education colleagues to promote children’s social, emotional and behavioural
development, providing them with information and signposting to other services,
where appropriate. It includes the use of an Ages and Stages Questionnaire in
relation to social and emotional development of children (ASQ:SE-2).

Click here to view video about 3+ Health Review in Pre-School

Named Health Visitor alignment to Department of Education (DE) funded preschool
education settings: Health Visitors are aligned to DE funded preschool settings where they work in partnership with education colleagues to support and promote healthy child development and learning. The health visitor provides an initial face to face contact with the pre-school principal/leader during the first term of the academic year and provides a minimum of two further contacts with the preschool principal/leader one per term. Contacts may be via phone / email or face to face.  The Health Visitor will also inform the pre-school principal or leader of any pending health campaigns.

 

Mencap: Creating Better Futures Seminar

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Mencap will host their seminar Creating Better Futures: – Why Early Intervention Matters for Young People with a Learning Disability in the Long Gallery, Stormont. The seminar will be an opportunity to hear from keynote speakers including Prof. Richard Hastings, University of Warwickshire and Koulla Yiasouma, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People.

 

Seminar Details

Date: Thursday 18 January 2018

Time: 9.30-12.30pm

Venue: Long Gallery, Stormont

 

Click here to download the invitation to the seminar

 

How to Register:

To register to attend this event contact Jonathan Craig, Mencap at jonathan.craig@mencap.org.uk