Welcome to the latest issue of locality news for Derry, Limavady, Strabane and Waterside Locality Planning Groups.
Derry, Limavady, Strabane & Waterside LPG FYI – November 2021
(Note: FYI will download directly to your device. Look out for the pop up box and click on open file when it appears)
If you wish to advertise of any upcoming programmes or activities please see the guidance on the back page.
Back L-R: Donna Dugan (SEHSCT ) ; Dr Una Lernihan (HSCB) ; Prof Stan Houston (QUB/Trinity) ; Catherine Cooke (NHSCT) ; Julie McGrath (SHSCT) Front L-R: Dr Lorna Montgomery (QUB) ; Helen Dunn (HSCB) ; Sinead Keown (BHSCT) ; Dr Mandi MacDonald (QUB) ; Dairine Mooney (WHSCT)
The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) is committed to developing social work practice and finding new ways of working with families and children to improve outcomes for them.
The Building Better Futures (BBF) project, supported through workstream 3 of the Early Intervention Transformation Programme (EITP) and changed managed by Helen Dunn (CYPSP), is having a significant impact on practice and helping to transform the way in which social services in family and child care is delivered across Northern Ireland.
Parenting can bring many challenges. When placed in the context of austerity and welfare changes it leaves many families struggling to cope.
Developing relationships with parents, appreciating the context in which they live and understanding the needs of children is crucial in this work. That is why the HSCB is so keen to support and develop good social work practice.
Developing a range of tools for professionals is a key element of the Building Better Futures project.
A key part of this initiative has been the partnership between academic colleagues, practitioners at the frontline and the implementation provided by HSCB.
Helen Dunn opened the recent Building Better Futures Seminar and has led on the BBF framework and championed the model for over 4 years with it being recognised as a “brilliant piece of transformation work with massive potential”.
Also speaking at the seminar, Director of Social Care and Children, Marie Roulston, commended colleagues Prof Stan Houston, Dr Lorna Montgomery and Dr Mandi MacDonald, as well as Helen Dunn and the seminar practitioners from each of the Trusts, for all they have accomplished in this work.
That work has produced a manual, a training resource, a short film an side memoire and an evaluation and there are plans to progress this further.
Speaking at the seminar, Jackie McIlroy (Deputy Chief Social Worker) stressed the importance of early intervention stating; “Today’s event is about recognising the hard work and achievements of the Building Better Futures project, while also recognising that we all have a role in supporting children and young people at the earliest possible opportunity.”
The HSCB is committed to the ongoing delivery of Building Better Futures and to working closely with Trusts to continue to ensure its implementation over the coming years.
The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) commissioned Queens University Belfast to complete an international trauma informed practice evidence review.
A full evidence review report has been made available alongside several sector specific trauma informed research documents from health, social care, child welfare, justice and education perspectives.
The EITP Trauma Informed Practice Resources are now available to download:
Trauma Informed Practice Evidence Review Reports
The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) commissioned Queens University Belfast to complete an international trauma informed practice evidence review. The reports are now available to download on the SBNI website https://www.safeguardingni.org/resources-professionals
NI ACE Animation
The NI ACE Animation is now available to view on Vimeo and Youtube at the following links.
VIMEO (no subtitles) – https://vimeo.com/327246740
VIMEO – Subtitled – https://vimeo.com/330114583
YOUTUBE – https://youtu.be/I-r3Xi7qByU
YOUTUBE – subtitled – https://youtu.be/LY-8HilOzh0
The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland are holding a series of workshops to deliver ACE Awareness and Trauma Informed Practice Training across health, social care, education, justice and the community/voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.
A series of information workshops are being delivered to the various sectors, including the community/voluntary sector, with the following aims:
a) Engage with the community & voluntary sector to help us to understand your current level of ACE awareness and relevant training needs to be more trauma sensitive in your work and practice.
b) Explore opportunities and challenges of embedding trauma informed practice in your service / team / organisation.
Date/Time: Tuesday 7th May 2019 : 9.30 – 12.30
Location: St. Columb’s Park House, Derry
Register: https://vcs-derry.eventbrite.co.uk/
View the flyer here.
Date/Time: Tuesday 9th May 2019 : 9.30 – 12.30
Location: NICVA, Belfast
Register: https://vcs-belfast.eventbrite.co.uk/
View the flyer here.
Date/Time: Tuesday 10th May 2019 : 9.30 – 12.30
Location: The Junction, Dungannon
Register: https://vcs-jct.eventbrite.co.uk/
View the flyer here.
To register your interest please click on the relevant link above.
Numbers are limited so early booking is essential.
Please note: Registering your interest in this workshop does not guarantee a place. You will be contacted once registration closes on 1 May with confirmation.
Who can remember being outdoors building dens, climbing trees, making perfumes from leaves and flowers or playing with mud, stones or water? These types of childhood outdoor play experiences have been declining over time and children today are therefore having much less contact with the natural world.
The first EITP Playmatters play briefing sheet for 2019 ‘Playing with nature, mud and getting dirty’ aims to help parents consider the importance of letting children have contact with the natural world including their exposure to bacteria and germs and indeed, playing with mud, making a mess and getting dirty!
Please do circulate our Play Matters materials as widely as possible, especially amongst parents (including on social media #playmatters)
