VOYPICS Policy Project provides opportunities for Care experienced young people in Northern Ireland to inform and shape legislation, policy and practice which affects their lives. The Policy Project ensures that the views of Care experienced young people are fed back to the Government, Statutory and Voluntary agencies, who are responsible for the design, delivery and evaluation of services for young people with experience of Care.
The Policy project achieves this by:
Involving children and young people from Care and Aftercare settings in meaningful consultation/dialogue on policy or practice affecting them
Establishing links and agreements with key agencies, ensuring that the project is a recognised and accepted conduit for input into policy and practice, for example, DHSS&PS, H&SS Boards & Trusts, NGO’S, Voluntary, community and statutory bodies
Ensuring that children and young people are aware of VOYPIC as an agency which will involve them, represent and facilitate their own views and opinions
Ensuring that all pending policy changes are anticipated within a time frame, which will allow well timed and prepared dialogue and consultation with young people
Facilitating the input of children and young people to represent themselves and their peers in appropriate forums
VOYPIC’S POLICY PROJECTS CURRENT WORKING AGENDA NIGALA Viewpoint Evaluation
In partnership with the Guardian Ad Litem Agency, VOYPIC interview forty young people per annum to evaluate the level of service they received from their Guardian and Solicitor. A dedicated Sessional worker is employed to complete this work. The viewpoint questionnaire enables children and young people to comment on the relationship and quality of service received from their Guardian Ad Litem. Their levels of participation in court hearings are also addressed, as well as their recommendations for future improvements of the service.
CHILDREN MATTER SECURE CARE SUB GROUP
The project coordinator is a member of the Children Matter Sub Group. This group considers the appropriateness of Secure Care provision and its existing use. It is equipped to make recommendations on future provision; devise and agree a plan to implement change to the service and; make recommendations to inform the development of other approaches/services. CHILDREN’S SERVICES PLANNING
The representation of Children’s Services Planning sub groups within each of the Health Care Trusts is central to the work of the project. The project is represented in sub groups within each Health Care Trust, pertaining to Looked After Children. It is involved in planning services for young people in receipt of Leaving and Aftercare services AFTERCARE PRACTITIONER’S GROUP (ACPG)
The project continues to facilitate the regional Aftercare Practitioners Group. The ACPG is a regional group of professionals working in the Leaving and Aftercare field in both statutory and voluntary agencies. The mission of the ACPG is to provide a forum for those concerned with good quality Aftercare provision, thus enabling the effective delivery of comprehensive services to young people throughout Northern Ireland. DHSSPS REVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL CARE
This project was commissioned by the Children Matter Taskforce to review the strategic direction of residential childcare services. The Project Coordinator is a member of Work Stream 2, examining Care Planning arrangements and processes across the residential sector.
The Project Coordinator will also assist all of the six work streams, to involve and consult with young people, or to produce friendly information for children and young people.
To date the Project Coordinator has been involved in; developing a regional policy document for Children’s Resource Panels; developing residential policies in line with the minimum standards, and has coordinated a consultative process with children, young people and residential staff in each of the five Trusts involved in ‘Promoting Positive Relationships’.
CINI Policy Forum
The Project Coordinator is a member of the Children In Northern Ireland (CINI) Policy Forum. This forum is attended by a number of children’s charities across Northern Ireland and provides an opportunity for members to highlight forthcoming initiatives and to discuss policy issues.
NICVA’s Policy and Advocacy Forum
The Project Coordinator is a member of the recently formed Policy and Advocacy Forum coordinated by NICVA. The aim of the forum is to enhance the capacity of projects, in order to build links, make policy responses and participate in policy development. This will assist the project in anticipating pending policy changes.
Sessional Project Workers Programme
The Sessional Project Workers Programme employs Care experienced young people aged 18+ in VOYPIC. The Sessional Project Workers are trained and employed to work alongside the Policy Coordinator, to ensure that young people are involved and consulted in all aspects of Policy and Service Development.
If you would like any further information on the current work undertaken by the Policy Project, contact the Project Coordinator, Alicia Toal on tel: 02890 244 888.
This project was commissioned by the Children Matter Taskforce to review the strategic direction of residential childcare services. The Project Coordinator is a member of Work Stream 2, examining Care Planning arrangements and processes across the residential sector.
