Developing a Restorative Community: The Experience to Date in Tallaght West

1. Developing a Restorative Community:The Experience to Date in Tallaght West ACJRD 16th Annual Conference 4th October 2013

2. About CDI • 2007: Prevention and Early Intervention Programme, funded by DYCA and The Atlantic Philanthropies; • 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.

3. What is Restorative Practice?

4. RP ProgrammeObjectives

5. 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.

6. What Did The RP Programme Do? • RP training began in 2010 (as part of our CSI); • Training provided monthly; • Trainees drawn from all agencies working with children and young people as well as residents and young people themselves; • To date (September 2013), just over 1,000 people trained; • 16 local trainers accredited; • St. Marks Community School became the 1st RP organisation in Tallaght in October 2012; • 5 more RP organisations by December 2013; • All Ireland Restorative Practice Strategic Forum established.

7. Evaluation2010-2012: By the Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway.

8. 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.

9. Main Impact Outcomes

10. Main Impact Outcomes

11. Main Process Outcomes

12. Main Process Outcomes

13. Key Evaluation Recommendations • CDI’s commitment to the implementation of the RP Programme should be maintained; • Further consideration should be given to how improvements can be made in recruiting residents and also adapting the content of the programme so as to be more inclusive for non-professionals; • Trainees should be given more support on how to apply RP in different situations;

14. Key Evaluation Recommendations • 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.

15. Policy: Relevant Outcomes and Key Recommendations

16. Key Policy Outcomes • A range of sectors including education, justice and youth work, have found that the use of RP in their day-to-day business has improved working relationships and assisted in achieving better outcomes for the children and young people they work with; • Given the findings relating to improved productivity and reduced work-based conflict, the RP programme can very usefully inform the Government’s public service reform agenda.

17. Key Policy Recommendations • That all children and young people be dealt with restoratively by the adults in their lives. • That RP training modules be included in all teacher training courses • That relevant professional associations and support organisations recognise RP as a core skill for the continuing professional development of people with responsibility for the well-being of children and young people. • That RP comprise an integral element of training for all those working with children, young people and communities.

18. 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 • This framework 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.

19. How Has It Worked??? • CSI examples • Group of young people • Family • Youth Service examples • Benefits of informal restorative practices • School examples • Teachers feedback • Young people’s feedback • Parents feedback

20. 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.

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