As part of the preparations for publishing and implementing the Children’s EHWB Framework SPPG have enlisted the support of the National iThrive Centre to facilitate a number of information and engagement events this autumn.

The EHWB Framework aims to provide a consistent systems wide approach to children’s mental and emotional health and wellbeing provision.

The problem we are currently facing across our society is;

• Long waiting times and a poor experience of waiting
• Delays in identification and assessment of needs, which compromises children and young people’s progress
• Confusion about how to navigate the system and services across health education and community support
• Need and family (and professional) expectations exceed capacity in our current system
• Children and young people’s preferences for how they would prefer to access services and support are not known or systematically addressed
• Gaps in access to advice and support whilst waiting and our response to those not requiring specialist care but have other needs
• Changing our environment and attitude to support neurodiverse children and young people

Our current model of working is struggling to meet the needs of children,  young people and their families. Funding and workforce are scarce and can not meet the current and growing demands. It will require a paradigm shift in our thinking about effective and efficient integration and realignment of current service s across all sectors going to successfully meet the needs and improve the lives of children and young people going forward.

The THRIVE Framework thinks systemically about the mental health and wellbeing needs of children, young people and families through five different needs based groupings: Getting Advice and Signposting, Getting Help, Getting More Help, and Getting Risk Support. Thrive’s vision is of a world in which children’s social and emotional needs are better understood and met. Created to support this vision, the Thrive Approach is a dynamic, developmental and trauma-sensitive approach to meeting the emotional and social needs of children.

THRIVE’s vision is of a world in which children’s social and emotional needs are better understood and met. Created to support this vision, the Thrive Approach is a dynamic, developmental and trauma-sensitive approach to meeting the emotional and social needs of children. Originally developed for use with primary school-aged children, the training and online tools are being used successfully to support the emotional development- and life chances- of all children from birth to adulthood.

The THRIVE Framework puts young people and families at the heart of decision making. It can often be a challenge to achieve shared decision making in settings as complex as services for children and young people’s mental health. It is imperative to involve children and young people in shared decision making about their own ‘emotional health and well-being.’ It is essential that children and young people have a say and feel heard about what they think, feel and want to happen about their own emotional health and well-being, right from the start.

These events are to inform key stakeholders about the concepts of using the Thrive system change model to help understand their role and the language used in and across EHWB services. It will help understand how to support children and young people with mental health, neurodiverse or neurodevelopmental needs.

The online sessions will allow for an introduction and Q&A session. The face to face events will bring everyone together to have a facilitated conversation about

• language
• their role and responsibility
• what they believe others do
• how best to support children and meet their needs
• how we can best work together

There is capacity for about 120 at each online session and about 80 at each live event.

For information here is a list of the dates we are planning to have iThrive information events and workshops.

Please see below confirmed dates/times for the virtual iThrive events:

1.  25^th October 11.30am – 1pm
2. 26^th October 11.30am – 1pm
3. 7^th November 12.00pm – 1.30pm  please note that information event will have an EHWB in Education specific theme
4. 9^th November 11.30am – 1pm

Registration link iThrive online

Also please see below confirmed Face to Face dates/times;

1. 13^th November 10am – 4pm; Antrim/Ballymena, (NHSCT)
2. 14^th November 10am – 4pm; Derry/Londonderry (WHSCT)
3. 4^th December 10am – 4pm;  Dungannon (SHSCT)
4. 5^th December 10am – 4pm; Lisburn (BHSCT/SEHSCT)

Registration live events

Can you consider who you feel will be best people to attend from your organisations and networks. It will be best if we can have representatives who will help inform strategic thinking and outcomes. It will also be important to have leaders from some local service user representative groups to give their views and inform the conversation.  

“Embrace a Rewarding Career Working with Children or Become a Classroom Assistant!”

Would you like to work alongside children and play an important role in their growth and development? 

We have exciting news for you! Applications are NOW open for Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council residents to sign up to one of two NEW 5-day Academies taking place soon:

1. Working with Children Employment Academy (Childcare)
   OR
2. Classroom Assistant Employment Academy

These Employment Academies are running in partnership with the ABC Labour Market Partnership to give unemployed or underemployed* local residents the opportunity to retrain in these in demand sectors!

Let’s break down what each academy will focus on: 

Classroom Assistant Employment Academy: 20th-24th November 2023

Classroom Assistants: Nurturing Learning in Schools 🏫

👩‍🏫 Supporting teachers from P1 to Yr.14.

📝 Aiding with curriculum delivery and assignments.

📚 Assisting with classroom management and administrative tasks.

Working with Children Academy- 27^th November-1^st of December 2023

Childcare and Playwork Settings: From Early Years to After School 🎈

👶🧒 Serving the 0-5 age group and after-school up to P7.

🎯 Focused on developmental play and socialisation.

🏡 Informal and flexible settings for fun and learning.

Over these 5 days the People 1st Academy team will help prepare you so you can make the move into employment.

✅Classes are held online so anyone can take part

✅ From 10am to 1pm, take part from home or we can support you to get online in our local offices!

✅ Go from a total beginner… to get a great overview of the job role

✅ Learn and fast-track your knowledge of what the job entails,

✅ Help prepare you for questions you might get asked at upcoming job interviews! 

We will provide free SBNI Child Protection Level 2 accredited certification to our participants, ensuring child safety continues to be paramount.

Then… at the end of the week…fresh with your new knowledge and skills, we will then help introduce you to employers with vacancies ready to fill and give you the best chance of getting that job you really want!!

Lots of past participants of these academies have gone on to secure employment- you could be next!!

“I found The People 1st Academy course very worthwhile and a great opportunity to further my skills. I got the job!”

 “This Academy by People 1st gives me the chance to have a real career”

 We are expecting demand to be high! If you have any questions, please email our Employment Academy on abc-academy@people-1st.co.uk or call Maria on 07847 807 903.

Each path offers unique experiences and opportunities. Which one matches with your career goals? Let’s explore together!

You can read more about Employment Academies on the People 1st website, where you will find some FAQ’s and case studies about past participants there:  https://people-1st.co.uk/programmes/academies/  

*This academy has been specifically created for those who are unemployed or working 16 hours or less, and not in full-time education or training, to help fast-track the way to employment within this in-demand sector.

If you meet the criteria listed above and would like to apply for the Working with Children or Classroom Assistant Employment Academy, then please register your interest with our team today on our quick and easy application form click below:  https://forms.gle/kweujkoGhviX3L3u9