Page 367 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 2019
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three years. Workers noted that some parents are initially reluctant to come to group courses but may subsequently engage if they have built trust and confidence through one-on-one support.
Compared with the other places we visited, the young Knocknaheeny program was clearly practitioner led. However, it has just started a piece of work seeking to better capture children’s voices, and we were told that one of its next priorities is to increase parental engagement in decision-making.
In Cork I also met the lord mayor, who is a great friend of Australia, having lived here for a period. It was a pleasure to sign his visitors book and hear his insights into early intervention and youth programs in Cork. The following day we spent time at the Cork city learning support services, part of the Department of Education and Skills’ youth reach education, training and work experience program for early school leavers.
The school supports students from 12 to 23 years old with a range of issues and presentations that prevent them engaging in mainstream school. For many young people, this is likely to include serious family trauma or other difficulties associated with inappropriate role modelling. However, some of the students were also recent migrants who have arrived with little English and limited formal education.
The coordinator noted that all students present with low self-esteem. However, while all report as underachievers, only one in eight actually performs below average and one in four tests well above average. And when asked what they want to achieve, the young people want to do the junior certificate and leaving certificate, just like other students. Again, relationships were identified as key. The organisation’s philosophy is to focus on knowing each student and having a relationship that enables the right support and resources to be offered at the right time.
In conclusion, this study tour was a timely insight into some of the leading practice that is spoken about across the child protection, early support, youth work and restorative practice communities. It was invaluable to see the philosophies and programs in context to better understand the environment in which they have emerged and matured. In that regard, austerity was a frequent topic as programs have struggled with disinvestment, but also as people have found a new impetus to invest in early intervention. While our broad policy environment is rather different, we learned a lot that will inform the next stages of our reform agenda.
I present the following paper:
United Kingdom and Ireland Study Tour—December 2018—Ministerial statement, 19 February 2019.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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