Stake holder panel pictured at the event: Laura Durkan, Social Work Student, Shirley McCafferty, Social Worker, Social Services Training, SHSCT, Suzanne Cunningham, Assistant Director of Children’s Services, RQIA, Laura Rice, Social Worker/Training Co-Ordinator, HSC NI Adoption and Foster Care, Gerry Guckian, Interim Chair, Social Care Council Board
It is internationally recognised how critical child development, early childhood experiences and the journey through childhood and adolescence can be for setting up children and young people for lifelong success.
At a special launch today, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) showcased a new and invaluable digital learning resource series aimed at supporting children and young people to thrive. The resource provides practical, evidence-informed information to underpin practice, inspire conversations and actions that support children, young people and families within their unique context.
The Social Care Council developed the resources in partnership with authors; Professor Mary McColgan, OBE, Ulster University (UU), Emerita Professor of Social Work, Professor Anne Campbell, MBE, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), Paul McConville, Social Services Officer, Child Safeguarding and Child Protection, Department of Health (DoH) and Dr Suzanne Mooney, Senior Lecturer, Social Work and Systemic Practice, QUB.
Mary McColgan, Emerita Professor of Social Work, Ulster University said:
“For all children to thrive and reach their potential, we must take a whole person focus, on their physical, social, mental and emotional development and wellbeing, as well as their emerging sense of identity. Some children will be impacted by adverse experiences such as domestic abuse, family separation, substance use or mental illness. It is also important to consider the wider social context in which children and families live and understand additional challenges they may face, such as poverty or social media. This resource provides insight to these issues and links to trusted sources of information to assist professionals help children and their caregivers navigate these challenges.”
“These resources are aimed primarily at social workers, social work students, allied health professionals, including those working in nursing, education, youth work and youth justice. However, young people, their families and caregivers can also use the learning resources that are written to be accessible for everyone.”
Declan McAllister, Interim Chief Executive highlighted the important role these resources will play to empower everyone, be it professionals or the public, who are interested in child development.
“It is so important that we support a child or young person’s development through the early years and beyond, so they can learn, grow, thrive and reach their full potential. It is our hope that these resources can play a vital part in our collective efforts to nurture children and young people towards a bright future.”
Paul McConville, Professional Social Work Adviser, Department of Health added:
“A child will feel the impact of their early childhood experiences throughout their life. Adolescence is a vital period of development, and it is important that social workers and other professionals remain actively committed to assuring informed support is provided to help children and young people to continue to develop and thrive throughout the entirety of these important and precious years.
“These new resources benefit not only our children and young people, but their families and the communities in which they live, now and in the future.”
Are you interested in child and young people’s development and the issues which can impact?
Professions and the public are being encouraged to use the four resources as a source of information. They are resources free, downloadable, and shareable on the Learning Zone. Professionals interested in child and young people’s development, and the public can now access them to ensure they have the latest information to guide them. The resources will continue to be subject to regular updates.
The resources are available on the Social Care Council’s Learning Zone:
- Understanding Child Development 0-6 Years.
- Understanding Young People: 7-12 Years.
- Understanding Adolescent Development and Issues: 13-18 Years.
- Understanding Child and Young People’s Development – Policy and Legislation.
You can also listen to an episode of the Social Care Council’s podcast series ‘Care to chat’ New podcast episode: Talking about a child’s journey to adolescence and beyond which discusses the resource in more detail.
For more information:
Rita McCullagh, Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement
Rita.mccullagh@niscc.hscni.net/07874682049