Developing a Service Design Model to Support front-line practitioners in identifying and responding to service needs - with a particular focus on adolescents presenting with problematic sexualised behaviour

Ireland has a long and complex social history regarding the development of child protection service delivery. A wide body of literature has been published internationally over the years researching and theorising on the best... [ view full abstract ]

Ireland has a long and complex social history regarding the development of child protection service delivery. A wide body of literature has been published internationally over the years researching and theorising on the best approaches for designing and implementing new methods of best practice to meet the needs of children and families. To date however, these strategies have been driven predominantly using a top-down service development approach. In this workshop, we will demonstrate how a particular cohort of young people with problematic sexualised behaviour were not getting a service and how a group of multidisciplinary professionals  applied an Action-Learning approach to develop a local and responsive service for these young people This workshop will capture the dynamic and unfolding process of our service initiative using an Action Learning methodology.  Such a methodology would best support and evaluate a practitioner-led process throughout the phases of change as identified by Pasmore (2011): 1) understanding the need for change; 2) framing the change; 3) understanding the change and; 4) sustaining the change. The workshop will interactively explore themes through which emic organisational action learning are based on; such as the core principles of: relationships, communication, participation and inclusion.  The format of our workshop (power point presentation; facilitated small group discussion on how to apply an Action Learning Approach; large group feedback on practical learning for participants in their own areas of work) will empower front-line practitioners to meet and develop services around their own identified gaps in service provision by employing a similar Action-Learning approach.