KESS SERIES 9 PROGRAMME
(October 2026 – February 2027)
The KESS Series 9 Programme features seven themed seminars from 7 October 2026 – 10 February 2027, to facilitate Northern Ireland Assembly scrutiny of introduced and proposed legislative bills:
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7 OCT: |
Adult Safeguarding in Criminal Justice: Considerations When Legislating |
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11 NOV: |
Addressing Farming & Natural Constraint Areas: Considerations When Legislating |
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25 NOV: |
Addressing Fraud & Benefit Error: Considerations When Legislating |
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9 DEC: |
Resilient Workforces in Northern Ireland: Considerations When Legislating |
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13 JAN: |
Small Scale Renewable Energy in Northern Ireland: Considerations When Legislating |
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27 JAN: |
Safe & Effective Staffing in Social Work: Considerations When Legislating |
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10 FEB: |
Addressing Duty of Candour & Safe Staffing: Considerations When Legislating |
Seminars are free and held on specified Wednesdays (dates above), starting promptly at 1.30pm in Parliament Buildings located on the Stormont Estate. REGISTER NOW – places are limited. We look forward to welcoming you!
7 OCTOBER
ADULT SAFEGUARDING IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE:
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Public Understanding of Adult Safeguarding in Northern Ireland
Professor Lorna Montgomery and Dr Paula Devine, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast
Public awareness is an essential component of safeguarding both adults and children from crime, yet little is known about the public’s willingness to help or their knowledge of how to act if they have concerns about adults at risk. This presentation reports on findings from the 2024 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey – an annual survey recording the attitudes, values and beliefs of adults aged 18 years or older in Northern Ireland to a wide range of social policy issues – which are relevant to Assembly deliberations on the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill, as introduced by the Minister of Justice. It explores public attitudes toward adult safeguarding and their implications for policy and practice, giving particular consideration to the needs of vulnerable victims and witnesses.
Effective safeguarding relies significantly on the vigilance and active participation of ordinary citizens, including family members, neighbours, and community members, who are often best positioned to identify and report concerns or potential risks they encounter, or become aware of, in their daily lives. However, despite the importance of public awareness, there is relatively little known about public attitudes to the protection of adults who due to their personal characteristics or life circumstances may be at risk of harm, abuse or exploitation.
The 2024 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey asked a representative sample of 1,199 respondents aged 18 years or over about their recognition of abuse, the levels of harm they perceived in their communities and their potential responses to identifying abuse. Thus, what people think constitutes abuse or neglect; how much they think it happens; and if there is ease or unease with the balance between interference in the lives of adults and families, and protection of adults at risk.
The survey findings reveal that the public perceives substantial harm occurring to adults particularly in private homes, although significant variations exist across demographic groups. Despite a reported willingness to act, many respondents indicated they would not know what to do if they witnessed potential abuse, suggesting a significant knowledge gap. Concern about potential victimisation of those who report abuse was identified, with only moderate confidence in trusting the investigative role of Social Services and the police. Recommendations for enhancement of Safeguarding practice include the need to increase confidence in Social Services by strengthening interagency protocols and improving communication with the public about outcomes of investigations; publicise clear reporting mechanisms; and develop demographic-specific awareness-raising initiatives. All considerations of relevance to Assembly discussions about the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill.
2.05pm: Discussion
2.35pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
2.40pm: Networking & Refreshments
11 NOVEMBER
ADDRESSING FARMING & NATURAL CONSTRAINT AREAS:
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Floodplain Meadows: Farming with Nature in Areas with Natural Constraint
Professor David Gowing, Mrs Olivia Nelson and Ms Emma Rothero, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, The Open University
Extreme flood events are predicted to become more frequent. Resilient systems that can tolerate flooding and bounce back to provide an economic return are therefore needed. This presentation shares academic research findings concerning floodplain meadows and allied grasslands; findings that are relevant to Assembly deliberations on the Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill.
The presentation draws on research undertaken by The Open University Floodplain Meadow Partnership (FMP) about United Kingdom government’s agri-environment action (CGS18 Floodplain Meadows) under its Agri-Environment Scheme supporting English farmers whose land is increasingly difficult to manage, and about wider ecosystem services aimed to promote meadow conservation. Farmers increasingly struggle to maintain high-input business models on floodplain land, so the need for targeted support is highlighted that delivers multifunctional benefits. Moreover, evidence shows that floodplain meadows require no artificial fertilisers, remain productive during droughts and recover rapidly after floods, while also providing other benefits, including accommodating and cleansing floodwaters, sequestration and storage of carbon, resources for pollinators and an aesthetic contribution to the landscape.
For comparative purposes, to inform Assembly consideration of the Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill, this seminar examines how the English Agri-Environment Scheme awards payments that recognise a range of ecosystem benefits when providing farming with nature support – such as floodplain meadow management and restoration, a traditional means of growing hay in low-lying areas. While sharing research insights on how those benefits have served to inform and justify the payment rate, it also highlights how similar approaches are under consideration in Wales and Scotland, where similar to Northern Ireland farmers working on the land have been constrained by its flood risk.
2.05pm: Discussion
2.35pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
2.40pm: Networking & Refreshments
25 NOVEMBER
ADDRESSING BENEFIT FRAUD & ERROR: CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Detecting, Prosecuting & Punishing Social Security Fraud in Northern Ireland
Professor Gráinne McKeever, Social Justice Institute, School of Law, Ulster University
Recent legislative activity in Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) aims to respond to increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud – a legitimate aim that is in the public interest. Among those attempts are GB’s Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 (GB 2025 Act) and the proposed Public Authorities Fraud and Error Bill (NI Bill). Past legislative experience in Northern Ireland suggests the proposed NI Bill could mirror the GB 2025 Act, following the convention of social security parity under prevailing devolution arrangements. Naturally, any such attempts must strike a lawful balance of the competing interests – that is, introduce statutory measures addressing fraud, but not enabling unlawful state interference with the legitimate interests of benefit claimants and others, which could allow state intrusion and discrimination. This seminar presentation discusses the proposed NI Bill, while drawing on the GB 2025 Act experience.
It first explains the context for the proposed NI Bill: how the Social Security Administration (Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (and equivalent Act in Britain) created specific provisions for detecting, punishing and prosecuting social security fraud, amending the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 which defines social security fraud as a criminal offence. The 1997 Order increased data matching powers for detecting fraud and created new administrative penalties as an alternative to criminal prosecution. The trajectory of legislation dealing with fraud since then – most notably under the Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 – continued that pattern of expanding data matching powers and creating new penalties as punishments to reduce prosecution of low-level frauds in court.
When introducing the Bill for the GB 2025 Act, the Labour Government explained that its Bill was not a replica of the previous (Conservative) Government’s controversial Data Protection and Digital Information Bill 2023-24, which fell due to the dissolution of the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament. However, the GB 2025 Act provides similarly extensive new data matching provisions. It creates statutory duties on employers and banks to comply with data processing to verify benefit eligibility, even where there is no suspicion of fraud. This necessitates unprecedented surveillance of claimants and those who may be linked to them, including carers, appointees and landlords.
Given the GB 2025 Act experience and the pattern of maintaining social security parity in NI, this presentation highlights issues arising from the GB 2025 Act’s data-matching provisions – the extent and oversight of those proposed powers – as they could be specified in the proposed NI Bill. For example, the 2025 Act requires a statutory Code of Practice to guide data processors and investigators and ensure their behaviour under the Act is proportionate. The UK Parliament did not have sight of such a Code when deliberating on the GB Bill. A draft of that Code now is available and could inform Assembly considerations when addressing the proposed NI Bill and any such comparable Code – such as how the NI Bill and any NI statutory Code provisions could afford due process and specify appeal rights.
It also considers the NI Bill’s proposed specified definitions and whether any of its proposed safeguards on suspicion, vulnerability, affordability, hardship, eligibility, collateral damage and responses to fraud vs error would be adequate and proportionate.
The range of insights shared at this seminar will be helpful to both to those developing the Bill, as well as those scrutinising it – if the Bill would be introduced and enacted as proposed.
2.05pm: Discussion
2.35pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
2.40pm: Networking & Refreshments
9 DECEMBER
RESILIENT WORKFORCES IN NORTHERN IRELAND:
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Developing an Emotionally Resilient Workforce Through PEACE of Mind
Dr Natalie Divin, Dr Jessica Carr, Professor Denise Whitelock and Professor Christothea Herodotou, Institute of Educational Technology (IET), The Open University
The PEACE of Mind Project at The Open University is relevant to discussion regarding a number of legislative proposals in Northern Ireland – most notably the proposed 16-18s in Education and Training Bill, the proposed Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill and the introduced Regional Balance Bill. The Project – co-designed to reflect the needs of young people in both jurisdictions on this island – offers tailored six-week wellbeing interventions using a shared curriculum that seeks to support the wellbeing, resilience and life skills of over 25,000 young people aged 9-25 across the island of Ireland. It operates across a range of settings, including mainstream secondary schools, special schools and youth groups.
Highlighting the importance of cross-border, evidence-based and trauma-informed perspectives in policy and law-making, the presentation sets out emergent findings from the Project that provide practical, evidence-based insight into how youth wellbeing can be supported to address key societal and economic challenges including declining education participation and increasing numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET); all relevant to discussion about the noted bills, both their development and their potential implementation. For example, the proposed 16-18s in Education and Training Bill aims to address barriers and sustain participation and successful transition pathways. Public consultation responses addressing those proposals evidenced nearly half of young respondents citing “emotional health and anxiety” as a barrier to continuing education or training; substantiating the need for effective intervention methods. Early PEACE of Mind findings from nearly 700 young people demonstrate that targeted, low-intensity interventions can significantly improve young people’s confidence, communication, and ability to manage challenges, supporting both engagement in education and transitions into employment.
The Project’s development and use of creative intervention methods such as bibliotherapy and group work can teach youth lessons, such as coping skills to manage life challenges, communication skills, empathy, resilience and compassion. A key feature of the PEACE of Mind intervention is its Peer Mentor Model; aimed to equip young people, including participants with learning disabilities, with skills to support their peers, while also embed wellbeing interventions within their communities. The Peer Mentor Model, alongside the Project’s co-developed Digital PEACE of Mind Portal and its forthcoming free Open University Online Course, offer a scalable mechanism to embed these skills within education pathways. The presentation highlights how the Project’s online resources ensure digital sustainability to continuously support and upskill young people.
As the noted bills individually aim to address socio-economic inequality, and wellbeing can play a central role in addressing such inequality, the presentation explains how the Project’s methodology offers low-intensity, cost-effective, inclusive and sustainable interventions to support young people into and through a positive education/training experience. It outlines how the Project’s ready-to-implement, evidence-informed model could directly inform both the development and potential implementation of these legislative proposals – 16-18s in Education and Training Bill, Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill and Regional Balance Bill – if the bills would be enacted as proposed/introduced; and help increase Northern Ireland’s capacity when seeking to address socio-economic inequalities, support young people and build a resilient future workforce.
2.05pm: Discussion
2.35pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
2.40pm: Networking & Refreshments
13 JANUARY
SMALLER SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR NORTHERN IRELAND:
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Investigating the Potential of Rooftop Solar PV to Reduce Energy Demand in Northern Ireland Homes
Dr Paul McKenzie, School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Ulster University
Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables offers greater energy security, reduced energy costs and improved air quality. The Department for Economy’s Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland seeks to identify opportunities to increase renewable energy generation and work toward net zero by 2050; helping to implement commitments made in the Executive’s Programme for Government. An example of Departmental efforts in this area include its introduced Renewable Electricity Generation Bill; aiming to support renewable use in Northern Ireland. To help inform Northern Ireland Assembly scrutiny of that Bill, this seminar demonstrates the potential of solar PV to reduce carbon emissions while also lowering household energy bills.
The 2021 Census found that 63% of homes in Northern Ireland relied on oil which can exhibit significant price differences over short geographic distances (Walker et al., 2015) and reduce air quality (DEFRA, 2024). Furthermore, current housing stock in Northern Ireland has low energy efficiency with almost two-thirds of homes assigned an energy rating of D or below. Volatile fuel prices and low energy efficiency create high rates of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland with recent polls indicating 39% of households at risk of fuel poverty (NEA, 2025). Rooftop solar PV can be installed in order to lower household energy bills, while also reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Research at Ulster University used 3D images captured by aircraft to identify buildings across Belfast with high suitability for rooftop solar panels. The study found that over 70% of domestic buildings could accommodate solar panels, producing approximately 2,000 kWh of electricity per annum and saving 20 tonnes of CO2 over 25 years (Gawley and McKenzie, 2022).
In further research, data from household energy efficiency work was combined with solar models to determine the impact of solar panels on household energy costs and fuel poverty. The work found that rooftop solar panels could produce an average of 46.8% of annual electricity use in domestic buildings. Without solar panels, the average household spent 24.3% of gross annual income on electricity and space and water heating (SWH). After solar modelling, the average household would spend 19.9% of gross income on electricity and SWH. Based on combined electricity and SWH, homes saved an average of £580 per annum by installing solar panels (McKenzie and Gawley, 2026). Solar panels and hot water diverters (HWD) can reduce annual electricity costs by an average of 26%, demonstrating considerable benefits from combining technologies. Interestingly, while terraced properties had smaller roofs and smaller numbers of panels, they had lower annual demand, thus gained greater benefits from solar panels. Solar panels and HWDs lower annual electricity costs and, when taken alongside installed energy efficiency measures, suggest reduced fuel poverty risk. Moreover, integrating excellent data allows optimal rooftops to be identified for renewable deployment. Solar panels can significantly reduce household energy costs, thus lowering risk of fuel poverty. Furthermore, by reducing reliance on energy from the grid, solar panels can also help decarbonize buildings.
Spatial models enable policy- and law-makers to identify buildings that can experience gains from solar panels and other low carbon technologies. This can subsequently identify groups of homes that could collaborate to form community energy groups with high suitability. While spatial models can identify suitable buildings, they can also be used to identify larger sites for ground-mounted solar panels in rural locations (Finn and McKenzie, 2020). As such, spatial data and models can efficiently identify suitable locations for solar panels at various scales across Northern Ireland. So while the Department’s introduced Renewable Electricity Generation Bill, if enacted and implemented, could enhance renewable energy generation in Northern Ireland, there remains a need to look beyond large scale renewables, to those smaller scale, such as those highlighted here today.
2.05pm: Discussion
2.35pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
2.40pm: Networking & Refreshments
27 JANUARY
SAFE & EFFECTIVE STAFFING IN SOCIAL WORK:
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
This seminar offers an example of sharing academic research findings and insights to provide a reliable and robust evidence base for those in government seeking to operationalise safe staffing levels in Northern Ireland social work practice for those developing the proposed Safe and Effective Staffing Bill and those seeking to scrutinise that Bill.
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Baseline Analysis & Time Capacity in Children and Older People Social Work Services
Professor Paula McFadden and Dr Rachel Naylor, School of Applied Social and Policy Science, Ulster University
Safe staffing is critical to safe and effective social work practice, workforce sustainability, staff well-being and for safeguarding children and adults in need of protection. Unlike other health and social care professions, social work has lacked mandated staffing levels or caseload benchmarks, contributing to workload strain, burnout, and inconsistent service delivery. This presentation aims to support more sustainable social work practice based on improved staff wellbeing and continuity of care for service recipients. It is directly relevant to the proposed Safe and Effective Staffing Bill, based on a study commissioned by the Office of Social Services, Department of Health Northern Ireland, which adopted a staffing supply and workload demand approach using mixed methods, to analyse the workloads and staffing of 270 social work teams.
Outlining key findings of the study, the presentation addresses its first phase, including establishing a safe staffing definition, specifying three main concepts (Capacity, Communication and Connection) and developing 10 safe staffing in social work principles that are to underpin the HSC Trusts policy guidance, as well as draws on the learnings from recent familiarisation across the region (March – June 2026). Thereafter, it addresses the study’s second phase, providing workload insights about social worker time allocations for minor, moderate and complex cases and how those will inform written standards guidance for them, based on workload modelling across children’s and older people’s services. Indicative safe caseload ranges were identified as: 13-15 for Family Intervention Teams; 8-12 for Gateway Teams; 12-18 for Looked After Children Teams; and, 30-39 for Older People’s Community Services. In addition, thematic analysis highlighted increasing case complexity, administrative burden, and the importance of supportive communication and supervision.
2.05pm: Safe Staffing in Mental Health Social Work
Professor Gavin Davidson, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast
This presentation is relevant to the proposed Safe and Effective Staffing Bill. It summarises key findings from a series of written reports based on five academic research projects examining mental health social work in Northern Ireland; projects that were commissioned by the Office of Social Services. To help inform discussion about the proposed Bill, it highlights:
- Ten aspects of the distinctive contribution of social work to promoting and supporting mental health;
- A methodology for providing an estimate of the number of Approved Social Workers (ASWs) who are specially trained to fulfil statutory duties under mental health and mental capacity law and are needed in each Trust to help inform ASWs workforce planning;
- Findings of a rapid literature review of the literature concerning workforce planning for mental health social work;
- Data collection in 2022 from the Health and Social Care Trusts regarding their current staffing, structures and activities;
- Findings of a rapid literature review on safe staffing in mental health social work;
- Key points arising from an exploration of the context for safe staffing in this area of practice and potential approaches and tools for caseload weighting and management; and,
- Findings from a series of interviews and focus groups on safe staffing in mental health social work.
2.25pm: Safe Staffing in Children’s Residential Care
Professor Karen Winter, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast
Relevant to the proposed Safe and Effective Staffing Bill, this presentation focuses on a report commissioned by the Office of Social Services, addressing safer staffing in residential childcare in Northern Ireland. It focusses on key messages of that report, based on the following:
- A literature review identifying key research on: safer staffing in residential childcare services and skills mix; caseload weighting/management tools; appropriate caseloads across different types of teams and the factors to consider; and, any relevant perspectives from key international social work policy makers and researchers;
- A review of data collated by the Health and Social Care Trusts relating to safer staffing/skills mix; and,
- Focus groups conducted with heads of service, stakeholders and service users.
On those bases, seeking to focus on progress, challenges and opportunities going forward, recommendations are made regarding optimal staffing levels which are to inform the development of specific guidance on safer staffing for residential childcare.
2.45pm: Discussion
3.15pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
3.20pm: Networking & Refreshments
10 FEBRUARY
ADDRESSING DUTY OF CANDOUR & SAFE STAFFING:
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN LEGISLATING
Parliament Buildings – Long Gallery
1.30pm: RaISe Researcher – Welcome
1.35pm: Assembly Committee Chair – Opening Remarks
1.45pm: Anatomical Diversity, Patient Safety & Candour: Preparing Healthcare Professionals for Population Variation
Dr Eiman Abdel Meguid, Reader (Education), Centre for Biomedical Sciences Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast; Associate Professor Dr Hailey Nation, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonia; Associate Professor Dr Marwa Mahmoud Mady, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Alexandria University Egypt and Department of Biomedical Sciences Gulf Medical School University United Arab Emirates; Dr Alessandro Impedovo, University of Nottingham
This seminar is relevant to discussion addressing the proposed Individual Duty of Candour Bill. If candour is to be effective, it not only depends on appropriate responses following adverse events, but also on educational and organisational cultures that prepare healthcare professionals to recognise normal anatomical variation, distinguish variation from pathology, anticipate procedural risks and communicate uncertainty accurately and sensitively.
Anatomical variation is a normal feature of the human body, yet health professions education has traditionally relied on standardised anatomical models that may not adequately represent variation across populations. This presentation examines how greater recognition of anatomical diversity in dental and healthcare education could contribute to safer and more equitable care in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, having relevance in relation to clinical reasoning, interpretation of diagnostic images, procedural planning and communication of uncertainty or unexpected findings.
Key findings are shared from an academic structured synthesis of four main evidence sources – namely: (1) research studies examining students’ experiences of inclusive anatomy curricula; (2) research investigating anatomy learning and student motivation; (3) systematic and scoping reviews of approaches to teaching anatomical variation; and, (4) clinically relevant literature on anatomical variation and its implications for practice. Those sources have been critically appraised according to study design, sample and relevance to other clinical settings, to reveal new findings about dental development and oral characteristics – and how such development and characteristics vary significantly by ancestry, ethnicity, sex and geographic region – distinguishing established findings from emerging practices and unresolved evidence gaps.
That synthesis observed differences in eruption timing, tooth morphology, gingival pigmentation, arch form and aesthetic perceptions, emphasising the need for population-specific reference data and culturally sensitive, individualised diagnosis and treatment planning, rather than continued reliance on a single universal dental norm. Moreover, drawing on 2020, 2024 and 2025 academic research findings concerning health professions students, the presentation highlights how recent research illustrates the need for continued investigation of such students’ motivation, if feasible and effective education strategies are to be evidence-informed and further developed.
While acknowledging both the strengths and limitations of the available evidence, the presenter draws on these research findings and her wider scholarship to consider the following three issues: (1) whether current education and training standards adequately prepare professionals for population variation; (2) whether organisational learning following adverse events appropriately considers gaps in curricula and representation; and, (3) whether implementation of a statutory Individual Duty of Candour, as currently proposed, should be accompanied by written, evidence-informed guidance on inclusive educational resources, continuing professional development, incident learning and patient involvement. Drawing on those findings, as well as her wider scholarship, she acknowledges both the strengths and limitations of the available evidence.
2.05pm: Compassionate Pancreatic Cancer Care: Staffing, Support & Communication
Professor Gary Mitchell and Ms Tara Anderson, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast
Pancreatic cancer is one of Northern Ireland’s most demanding high-need cancer pathways: outcomes remain poor, deterioration can be rapid, and patients and families often require treatment, palliative, psychosocial and practical support at the same time. This presentation synthesises findings from the QUB/NIPANC Pancreatic Cancer Supportive Care, Education and Psychosocial Research Programme, which is grounded in lived experience and focused on supportive care, psychosocial needs and experiences, education, workforce development and service improvement.
Drawing together evidence across the Programme, the presentation considers what Northern Ireland legislation needs to recognise when defining safe and effective care and candour in a complex cancer pathway. Across patient, family-carer, professional and service-focused work, three issues are consistent. First, pancreatic cancer journeys are time-compressed. People may move quickly from diagnosis to treatment decisions, deterioration, palliative care or bereavement, leaving limited time for information, preparation and relationship-building. Ongoing Northern Ireland research examining the pancreatic cancer journey from pre-diagnosis to survivorship or end of life highlights why continuity, navigation and anticipatory support must be designed into services. Second, family members are not peripheral visitors but active contributors to care. Review evidence, together with ongoing research with family carers, identifies caregiver stress, disrupted daily life and relationships, unmet need, poorer quality of life, increased psychiatric risk and repeated lack of support and signposting. Third, the workforce implications go beyond staff numbers. Safe care in this pathway requires specialist pancreatic cancer knowledge, confidence in honest and compassionate communication, coordination across oncology, surgery, palliative care, specialist psychological and psycho-oncology support, primary care and voluntary-sector support, and awareness of age-sensitive family needs, including adolescents and young people affected by parental pancreatic cancer.
For the proposed Individual Duty of Candour Bill, the evidence highlights communication as an ongoing care process, not a single disclosure event. In pancreatic cancer, honesty, timeliness and compassion matter at diagnosis, treatment decision-making, deterioration, transition to palliative care and bereavement. For the proposed Safe and Effective Staffing Bill, the Programme indicates that workforce planning should account for high-need cancer pathways where clinical treatment, symptom management, emotional support and family support are inseparable. This raises scrutiny questions around specialist roles, care coordination, psycho-oncology access, professional education and regional and socioeconomic differences in access to support.
The presentation concludes with practical policy considerations for strengthening pancreatic cancer supportive care in Northern Ireland through staffing capability, communication standards, family-carer support, service navigation and academic-voluntary sector partnership.
2.25pm: Discussion
2.55pm: RaISe Researcher – Closing
3.00pm: Networking & Refreshments
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KESS?
The Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series – commonly known as “KESS” – provides a forum in which Northern Ireland Assembly Members and officials join with academics and others from the public and private sectors, to consider academic research findings relevant to Assembly business and provide opportunities to ask questions of the Academics and to express and exchange different opinions and perspectives.
While KESS serves to increase understanding and awareness on topics of interest to key players in policy-, law- and budget-making in Northern Ireland, it ultimately supports evidence-informed Assembly scrutiny, including that undertaken in Committees, and importantly nurtures deliberative and participatory democracy within this jurisdiction.
Who organises and delivers KESS?
The Research and Information Service (RaISe) of the Northern Ireland Assembly delivers KESS in partnership with Queen’s University of Belfast, Ulster University, The Open University, Stranmillis University College and St Mary’s University College.
Who are KESS Presenters & Attendees?
KESS seminars seek to bring together local university academics, Assembly Committee Chairs and Members, as well as Assembly (RaISe) Researchers, along with a broad spectrum of attendees – including Members, their advisors and researchers, political party staff, Assembly and Departmental officials, others from the public, private and community sectors, as well as members of the public.
What are KESS products?
Academics presenting at KESS must ensure their Policy Briefings and Presentations meet specified criteria, including, they are evidence-informed, robust, non-partisan and relevant to Assembly business. Views expressed by academic presenters are those of the academics and not of the KESS partnership organisers.
When & where do seminars take place?
Seminars are held on specified Wednesdays, starting promptly at 1.30pm in Parliament Buildings, located on the Stormont Estate. On occasion, Assembly business may require scheduling to be altered (published on the KESS website if that would occur).
When attending individual KESS seminars, please allow sufficient time both to walk to the Assembly Security Hut as you approach Parliament Buildings and to pass through Assembly Security before walking up the hill to enter Parliament Buildings.
Click here to find out more about visiting Parliament Buildings, including how to travel there.
Have you any venue accessibility considerations?
When registering, attendees will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments.
Are individual KESS events recorded?
Photography, filming and recording occurs in the public spaces of Parliament Buildings.
At KESS seminars, the academic presentations are filmed and made available online. Any discussion following presentations is NOT recorded. Reserved seating, away from cameras, can be made available to registered attendees if requested in advance.
Can any academics present at KESS?
Academics employed at KESS university partners are eligible to apply. Each year, call(s) are issued through the internal systems of the KESS university partners. For more information, contact: [email protected]