Comms Office Jack Anderson (QUB): In September 2011, a partnership between the NI ombudsman, the Law Centre (NI) and the School of Law at Queen’s University led to the production of a booklet called “Alternatives to Court in Northern Ireland”. The booklet (distributed freely in Courts, Citizens Advice Bureaus; solicitors’ offices, libraries etc. across Northern Ireland) attempted … Read more
Dr Jonny Byrne, Dr Cathy Gormley Heenan & Gillian Robinson (UU): This seminar presents finding from new research examining the public’s attitudes and awareness of peace walls. This is of particular relevance as a key commitment within Priority Four of the Programme for Government is to ‘actively seek local agreement to reduce the number of … Read more
Maria Lohan, Áine Aventin & Peter O’Halloran (QUB): This seminar will describe the development of an educational resource designed to increase young people’s intention to avoid adolescent pregnancy and to increase their ability to communicate about this issue. The resource, entitled ‘If I were Jack…’ is based upon an interactive video drama which tells the … Read more
Professor Colin Knox & Professor Vani Borooah (UU): Shared education refers to schools from different sectors working together in a sustained process ranging from two or more schools making shared use of specialist facilities through to co-ordinated timetabling, and pupils taking classes across a network of schools. Shared education is distinct from integrated education in … Read more
Goretti Horgan (UU): This seminar looks at the implications arising from the Welfare Reform Bill and assesses what can be done within the constraints of parity to reduce adverse impacts on people in Northern Ireland. It includes consideration of the changes to Housing Benefit regulations and the introduction of Personal Independence Payments for disabled people. … Read more
Mary Daly (QUB): This presentation focuses on parenting support, which has become a major interest on the part of policy makers and the site of considerable innovation in family and social policy, not just in the UK but across Europe. The presentation outlines the objectives associated with parenting support and the variations in policy approach … Read more
Joanne Wilson: This seminar explores the Government’s current desire to measure the nation’s well-being. Well-being is a complex and nebulous concept and different people will use different words to describe it. While this lack of clarity has not hampered our ability to measure the construct, it does pose significant implications for its use as a public … Read more
Janet Carter-Anand: The development of elder abuse services has traditionally been defined from the perspective of policy makers and professionals. This presentation will outline the findings from the first all-Ireland study that consulted older people as to their views on what interventions and services support people experiencing abuse. The subsequent report found that older people … Read more
Karen McElrath and Julie Harris: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is widely recognised as an intervention that is used to treat opioid (namely heroin) dependence. It is highly regulated and is available in both North/South Ireland. Using data collected in four different studies in North/South Ireland, we describe clients’ experiences with MMT. Methadone provision in both jurisdictions … Read more
Nicola Carr and Karen Winter: The benefits of an inter-disciplinary approach are evident when working with individuals and families with a range of complex needs, and who have contact with multiple services. This is particularly apposite in the area of child protection and welfare. This seminar will present an overview of an innovative inter-professional training initiative, … Read more