How are Children and Young People Doing in Northern Ireland?

We have just published our NI outcome monitoring report 2021 full of multi-agency population/census data. Download your copy now at tinyurl.com/bdhfun6c This is a great resource for assessing need, planning & evidence for funding opportunities.

 

This 11th 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 2015 up to 2022 (where available) The report presents the information collected against agreed indicators for each outcome, providing trend analysis over time and comparison across geographical sectors.

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 we have highlighted in the index  where we are still awaiting data.

Family Support Hub Newsletter – December 2022

The December edition of the Family Support Hub Newsletter is now available to download at  https://cypsp.hscni.net/download/391/family-support-hubs/39585/fsh-newsletter-dec2022.pdf

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

In this edition we are focusing on support for families over the festive period and beyond. As usual we’ve got lots of useful information and remember the CYPSP Cost of Living live document is still being updated on a regular basis to provide up to date regional and local information regarding the cost of living supports. We have included festivities activities and ideas to add some festive cheer.

It is also packed full of information for parents/carers, early years, children & young people with a disability,  mental health and wellbeing advice,  Helplines and much more – make sure you download your copy now!

Previous editions of the newsletter are available at  http://www.cypsp.hscni.net/family-support-hubs  under Family Support Newsletter section.

 

Family Support Hub Newsletter – October 2022

The October edition of the Family Support Hub Newsletter is now available to download at:    https://cypsp.hscni.net/download/391/family-support-hubs/39294/fsh-newsletter-oct2022.pdf

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

In this edition we have put a special focus on the cost of living crisis as we go into the colder, darker evenings when more heat is required and with the massive hikes in energy bills as well as the cost of food and other essentials we are seeing people focusing on how to get the best value for money.

It is also packed full of information for parents/carers, early years, children & young people with a disability, mental health and wellbeing advice, Helplines and much more – make sure you download your copy now!

Previous editions of the newsletter are available at  http://www.cypsp.hscni.net/family-support-hubs  under Family Support Newsletter section.

 

Prof Ray Jones’ Visit to Upper Springfield/Whiterock Family Support Hub

On 5 July 2022, the Upper Springfield/Whiterock Family Support Hub were delighted to welcome Prof  Ray Jones – Emeritus Professor of Social Work at Kington University and St George’s, University of London and a registered Social Worker.

It was an amazing opportunity for some of the families and services providers in the Upper Springfield/Whiterock lead body organsiation – the Whiterock Children’s Centre to speak with Prof Jones who has over 50 years experience in social care and as a Social Work Practitioner, manager, teacher and researcher and in 2022 appointed to undertake the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in North of Ireland.

Over the last 50+ years Prof Jones has been involved in an advisory capacity on a range of issues, inquiries, written books and research and has a wealth of experience and accomplishments to date.

Prof Jones’ visit to Whiterock Children’s Centre was a wonderful opportunity for families, service providers and Upper Springfeld/Whiterock Hub and lead organisations to give an insight into the diverse range of services and partners that come together to help make an amazing Hub!.

Upper Springfield/Whiterock Hub mantra – “we are only as good as those services around the table” is something that the Hub feel strongly about and they have continued to build upon from when the Hub was established in 2014.

The morning discussion focused on the strength in service providers coming together and working together – community, statutory and voluntary to provide the best possible bespoke support to suit the needs of each family how contact Upper Springfield/Whiterock Family Support Hub.

Families also spoke at length about the Upper Springfield/Whiterock Family Support Hub, the level of support and services provided by the core and associate members and how such support made a huge difference in their lives as a family.  Such experiences noted included help with social isolation, integration into new area/community, practical support, counselling, emotional and behavioural support for adults and children, help for those families awaiting assessment etc.

For the Hub, it was a humbling experience to hear just how such services have helped some of their families and the Hub were hugely grateful that families took time to note their own personal experiences in such an open forum.  At times it was very moving meeting and a privilege for Hub staff/service providers to hear some of the individual experiences from those present.

Hub staff and service providers look forward to reading the independent review and will continue to build upon the good work of the Upper Springfield/Whiterock Family Support Hub in the time ahead, as  they are only too aware that families need such Family Support Hubs and it is likely that the demand will only increase in the months ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Support Hub Celebration Event – June 2022

On 24 June 2022 the CYPSP Support Team, Family Support Hub (Hub) Coordinators, Hub members and other integral Partners came together for the first time since 2018, to reflect on and celebrate the work of the Hubs with particular focus on the work of the Hubs and members during the pandemic.

The day also provided an opportunity for Bronwyn Campbell to meet Hub Coordinators in person for the first time since taking up the role of Regional Family Support Hub Coordinator within the Health & Social Care Board (now SPPG/DoH) at the beginning of January 2022.

Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency and CYPSP Chairperson, opened the event, reflecting on the achievements of the Hubs.

Valerie Maxwell (Children’s Services Planning & Information Manager, SPPG/DoH) presented an animated video summarising the 2021/22 Annual Report, before Bronwyn Campbell addressed the Coordinators.

Presentations followed from Coordinators and Hub members – Lisa Grant (Craigavon & Portadown Hub), Alison Slater (Newry Hub), Joanne McCourt (Belfast Central Mission), Claire Larkin (Northern Area Hubs) and Sharon Nelson (Springfield & Whiterock Hub) who showcased how they adapted and changed their services in creative ways to enabled them to continue to meet the needs of the families and young people despite lockdown.

James Gallagher from Lifeline gave a fantastic presentation on “Caring for the Caregiver” and Eugene Mone from Barnardo’s brought along the Sensory Overload Virtual Reality Experience, a really powerful and thought provoking piece of work.

After a group exercise facilitated by Maxine Gibson (Children’s Services Planning Professional Advisor, SPPG/DoH) looking at what Coordinators seen as the challenges facing the Hubs in the next 12 months and how to rise to these challenges, the event was brought to a close by Maurice Leeson (Programme Manager Partnerships, Emotional Health & Wellbeing, CAMHS and Disability, SPPG/DoH).  This was particularly fitting given that Maurice played such a central role in the establishment of the Hub Network.