Restorative Practice Programme Presentation to NTMAC, September 2013

About CDI: 2007: Prevention and Early Intervention Programme, funded by Gov’t and Philanthropy; Tasked to design, deliver and evaluate services to improve outcomes for children and families in Tallaght West and inform policy and practice; Seven independent evaluations published; 2013: Area Based Response to Child Poverty: integrate proven models into mainstream services.

What is Restorative Practice? Restorative Practices are about working WITH people rather than doing things TO or FOR them RP is about offering high levels of support, whilst challenging inappropriate behaviour and encouraging acceptance of responsibility

To create a Restorative Community in Tallaght West Programme Objectives To create a Restorative Community in Tallaght West RP training to key stakeholders with responsibility for children and young people to create a common language and approach Accreditation of local trainers, and on going support to promote sustainability

Programme Aims Improved interagency collaboration amongst frontline staff; Improved relationships between service providers and residents; Increase in use of a common approach across sectors and disciplines; Increased confidence of frontline staff in dealing with conflict situations; Improved staff morale within participating organisations; Increased satisfactory resolution of neighbourhood disputes in the Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Pilot Sites; Increased reporting of anti-social behaviour and crime in the CSI Pilot Sites; Increased confidence amongst participating parents in managing their children’s behaviour and being solution focused; and Improved capacity amongst participating children and young people for dealing with conflict and managing problems.

What Did The RP Programme Do? Engaged with Hull RP Team to learn form the experience of developing a restorative city; Engagement with Senior Managers through awareness raising seminars (May 2010); RP training began monthly in 2010; Trainees drawn from all agencies working with children and young people as well as residents and young people themselves; St. Marks Community School became the 1st RP organisation in Tallaght in October 2012; All Ireland Restorative Practice Strategic Forum established to support sustainability re accreditation and quality assurance.

Breakdown of Training Figures 971 have received training of whom 722 live/work in Tallaght; Of these: 670 have done the basic RP training; 301 had done the Upsklling to become RP conference facilitators; 24 have done further training in the use of RP Circles 16 have gone on to train as trainers; 48 people from Tallaght Travellers Youth Services (40 of whom are travellers, including 32 young travellers) did the basic training in February 2013; To date, 109 young people in Tallaght West have done the basic training.

Evaluation 2010-2012: By the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Evaluation Methodology Independent mixed method evaluation contracted to Child & Family Research Centre, NUIG; Pre- and post- training surveys, site observation, interviews and focus groups; Overseen by international Expert Advisory Committee.

Main Impact Outcomes Frequent use of Restorative Practice 55% work; 46% School; 41% community. 75% have experienced others using Restorative Practice in work, school and community 87% better management of conflict

Main Impact Outcomes 43% reduction in disputes with greatest gains made in the workplace Significant improvement in people’s ability to manage conflict with greatest gains made in interagency work and between neighbours Significant improvement in relationships with greatest gains between organisations and their service users

The RP Programme was well organised and delivered with fidelity by CDI Main Process Outcomes The RP Programme was well organised and delivered with fidelity by CDI RP training was well received by participants and participants could see its value In the main, progress was made towards the attainment of training targets

Main Process Outcomes The areas where improvements are needed include…. Ensuring more residents are recruited to the training programme Improved supports to individuals and organisations that have received training

Key Evaluation Recommendations CDI’s commitment to the implementation of the RP Programme should be maintained; Consider improvements in recruiting residents and adapting the training to be more inclusive for non-professionals; Trainees should be given more support on how to apply RP in different situations; That CDI extend the programme to other agencies and groups with a child or youth remit and consider extending the programme to other areas; Given the positive impact of the RP Programme in reducing workplace conflict, organisations should be supported to implement the RP Programme; and CDI should continue to monitor the impacts of the programme over time.

Policy: Relevant Outcomes and Key Recommendations

Key Policy Recommendations That consideration be given to the opportunities for RP to support the public reform agenda, particularly in relation to the reduction of work-based conflict; The establishment of a national framework of support for the development and promotion of restorative practices, to include a national office for coordinating the development of capacity, systems and infrastructures which support the growth, evolution and quality of RP and build their sustainability. The further development of accredited training for restorative practices and the establishment of a national system for the accreditation and professional development of RP trainers.

Current Status Working towards launch of Tallaght West as a Restorative Community March 2014; Developing sustainable mechanisms for the on- going implementation of RP; Dissemination of learning to relevant stakeholders nationwide.

Any Questions? www.twcdi.ie Canoeing Circle 2012 http://twitter.com/twcdi Canoeing Circle 2012 http://www.facebook.com/ChildhoodDevelopmentInitiative