South East Technological University’s Faculty of Lifelong Learning Carlow celebrates the successful delivery of its Certificate in Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS), co-produced with Tusla to meet the professional development needs of practitioners working with children, young people and families across the Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary areas. The first cohort of graduates from this course gathered at SETU’s Carlow campus to celebrate their achievement and springboard the launch of the next roll-out of courses with Tusla.
The certificate was funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and its ‘What Works’ funding initiative. Participants of the course came from a variety of roles within the community and social care sector, particularly family support roles. The course gave those working in the area of PPFS an opportunity to co-create an accredited programme that is practical, supports professional and personal development and provides a shared environment that encourages working relationships among service providers who are working with children, young people and families.
Dr Joe Collins, Head of Faculty of Lifelong Learning at SETU’s Carlow campus, commented: “This certificate supports the development of knowledge and skills of professionals who are actively engaged in the Child and Family Support Networks, from community, voluntary and statutory services. Learners developed the skill set required to develop evidence-based programmes in their own practice to meet the needs of their service users and practice more efficiently and in a preventative manner. Furthermore, they developed skills in monitoring the implementation of service provision and applying continuous improvement planning, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practice”.
Dr Joe Collins and Project Coordinator, Nicola McEntee, were joined by Joan Dunne, Senior Tusla PPFS Manager for Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary; Anne Marie Stafford, Tusla Area Manager for Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary; Sandra Collins, Senior CFSN Co-ordinator, Tusla; Cathy Lillicrap, Senior Youth Worker at Carlow Regional Youth Service and course participant; and Maeve Dempsey, PPFS course lecturer, all of whom played key roles in bringing the certificate to life. Also pivotal to the course was Catherine O’Donohoe, Tusla Regional Implementation Manager for PPFS, and Niall Morris, Director of Services, St. Catherine’s Community Services.
This interagency collaboration illustrates what can happen when third level institutions collaborate and invest in the communities in which they operate to serve the needs of the wider community. “The Certificate in Prevention, Partnership and Family Support, co-produced by Tusla and SETU is an example of interagency collaboration; networking and partnership at its best. The course, from its conception to completion, engaged the experiences of industry experts within Tusla and SETU’s Faculty of Lifelong Learning, to produce an excellent certificate to inform practitioners on the function of PPFS within Tusla service delivery framework and the theories which inform it. It also developed an excellent model of partnership between the two organisations, with a platform established for future collaborations. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to be part of such a positive experience which supports collaboration, knowledge sharing and experiential learning.” commented Sandra Collins, Senior CFSN Co-ordinator, Tusla.
“As Senior Youth Worker my role is to provide youth work opportunities for young people to develop their social and personal skills. This is achieved by working with young people collectively with a network of professionals form statutory, community and the voluntary sector. Enrolling in the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support course provided me with good knowledge of Tusla’s Child and Family infrastructure, providing me the opportunity to engage with a wider network of professionals within our community of practice. This in turn ensures better outcomes for young people and their families.” commented Cathy Lillicrap, Senior Youth Worker at Carlow Regional Youth Service and course participant.
The Certificate will continue to be delivered in Autumn 2022 by the Faculty of Lifelong Learning at SETU’s Carlow campus.
For further information, contact Sinead Cronin Daly, Senior CFSN Co-ordinator Wexford, for the module due to be delivered at Wexford Campus starting 14 October: sinead.cronindaly@tusla.ie or Kerina Foran, Senior CFSN Co-ordinator Waterford, for the module due to be delivered at Waterford Campus starting 18 November: kerina.foran@tusla.ie
For press queries, please contact Patricia Madden, Marketing Officer, SETU Lifelong Learning, Carlow Campus on 059 917 5274 or email patricia.madden@setu.ie
Photo caption: Dr Joe Collins, Head of Faculty of Lifelong Learning at SETU’s Carlow campus with Project Coordinator, Nicola McEntee; Joan Dunne, Senior Tusla PPFS Manager for Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary; Anne Marie Stafford, Tusla Area Manager for Carlow, Kilkenny and South Tipperary; Sandra Collins, Senior CFSN Co-ordinator, Tusla; Cathy Lillicrap, Senior Youth Worker at Carlow Regional Youth Service, Councillor Andrea Dalton, and course participant alongside course lecturers and participants.