Policy Forum for Ireland

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference is bringing together key stakeholders with policymakers to examine developments in policy on improving mental health and wellbeing provision in Ireland.

It will be an opportunity to discuss A Vision for Change, Ireland’s policy framework for the delivery of mental health services.

Delegates will discuss the development of the framework, with its outcome-based focus, following concerns about execution of the previous iteration of the strategy.

It will also be an opportunity to consider key issues in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, including assessing how services have performed and what can be learned for the future.

Key areas for discussion:

• The COVID-19 epidemic - the impact it is having on mental health in Ireland and the services that provide it, as well as:
  
  • longer-term measures that might have to be put in place,
  • support that will be needed for mental health professionals and services, and
  • how they can be implemented.
• Prevention of mental health issues and improving the accessibility of services - priorities including:
  
  • enhanced access routes for individuals through Primary Care;
  • integrating services; and
  • expanding the use of technology in the provision of mental health services.
• Early intervention - initiatives drawing on the roadmap provided by the HSE National Clinical Programme for Early Intervention in Psychosis;
• The mental health services workforce - planning for the future, including priorities for:
  
  • meeting local needs,
  • achieving the right skill mix for mental health services, and
  • recruitment and retention of mental health workers in Ireland.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - delivery against the backdrop of long waiting lists and increasing demand, including:
  
  • prospects for National Youth Mental Health Task Force Report recommendations on mental health leads, primary care support, national youth advocacy, raising awareness, and training,
  • how to tackle the challenges in improving the delivery of mental health services for young people,
  • enhancing the role of schools, and whole school approaches to guidance and Student Support Teams, and
  • multi-agency collaboration including supporting the development of effective community support services to provide alternatives to more traditional forms of care.
• Improving standards in the delivery of mental health services - including
  
  • in acute and in-patient delivery as highlighted by the most recent Mental Health Commission findings highlighting issues in community mental health services, and
  • implications of proposed changes to the 2001 Mental Health Act which are expected to give a wider remit for regulation of mental health services.
• Further areas for discussion include:
  
  • The future of eMental Health in Ireland, including the work done as a part of the eMen project, and
• Youth Work Ireland’s work to help prevent mental health issues among children and adolescents.

The agenda:

• Next steps for mental health policy in Ireland;
• Improving prevention, intervention, and access to mental health services;
• Priorities for mental health workforce - training, recruitment and retention, and developing an appropriate skill mix;
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - improving early support, prevention and collaboration to deliver high quality services; and
• Improving standards in the delivery of mental health services.

Policy officials attending

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.

It’s certainly the case with this one. Places have been reserved by officials from the Department of Health and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference

***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***

This conference will be a timely opportunity to examine the potential reform of the post-primary curriculum and assessment, and its implementation in Ireland.

Key areas for discussion:

• Priorities for the Senior Cycle following the review, including:
  
  • Priorities for successful reform and lessons learnt;
  • Developing pathways and curricula that meet the needs of pupils and wider society; and
  • Designing and implementing a practical and fair assessment for Senior Cycle.
• How to ensure that the new curriculum:
  
  • Allows flexibility for students to learn at their own pace;
  • Includes increased focussed on student wellbeing; and
  • Potentially includes current elements of the transition year, such as work experience and life skills.
• Provides effective pathways for transition to non-academic routes; and
• Whether new curriculum will meet the skills needs of universities and employers.

Why this is relevant now - the context:

It takes place with:

• Publication of interim findings, including the Economic and Social Research Institute’s recently published analysis of the NCCA-run consultations;
• The Collaborative Review of Senior Cycle Education: report for consultation expected to be published shortly before the seminar;
• Calls from some stakeholders for broader methods of assessment and some calling for a more continuous assessment process which relieves pressure on students; and
• Concerns from some that the current leaving certificate examination can have a negative effect on students’ mental health and encourages rote learning.

The agenda:

• Key points from the Senior Cycle Review;
• Key stakeholder perspectives on the priorities for successful reform and lessons learnt;
• Priorities for Senior Cycle - the ongoing findings of the Educations and Skills Committee;
• The development of the new curriculum - ensuring flexibility, areas of focus and developing effective pathways to further learning, university, and employment; and
• Assessment and qualification reform - implementation, reliability and the future of high stakes assessment.

Policy officials attending

Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stake holders.

This one’s no different. Places have been reserved by officials from the Department of Education and Skills; the Education and Training Inspectorate; the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;  the Department for the Economy, NI; and Department of Education, NI.

This is a full-scale conference taking place online***

• full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
• information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
• conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
• speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
• opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
• a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
• delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
• networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!

Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference