Intergrated Services Process (ISP) – Government led initiative in 1998.

‘To develop new procedures to ensure a more focused and better co-ordinated response by statutory authorities, to the needs of the communities with the greatest level of disadvantage’.

Londubh ProjectWhere We Began

Londubh Project

The ISP – consultation between statutory, voluntary and community based projects in order to highlight the areas of need.

Situating the schools – St. Michael’s Estate, Inchicore.

Naming the needs.

Setting up the Project.

Londubh ProjectPhilosophy

The Londubh Project works in a holistic manner, during and after school hours to

provide a secure and nurturing environment in which the children’s needs can be

addressed.

Londubh ProjectObjectivesWe aim: To work holistically with children who may be experiencing

difficulties at school or who may be at risk of early school leaving.

To respond to the children’s social and emotional problems in providing personal and small group support.

To enhance the child’s ability to function in the school and other environments.

To support parents and teachers to ensure that each child’s needs are best met.

Londubh ProjectAn Inter-Agency Approach

Underpinning the Londubh Projects structure is an interagency framework that can be seen

as integral to its success.

INTERAGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

INTERAGENCY MONITORING COMMITTEE

REFERRAL/PLANNNING/EVALUATION

Londubh Project An Inter-Agency Approach

Local Community

Our Lady of Lourdes NS

HSE

Social Work Dept

Juvenile Liaison Services

Local Community Drugs Team

INTERAGENCY

MANAGEMENT

COMMITTEE

Canal Communities Partnership

Londubh Project Staff St. Michael’s

Parish Youth Project

Home/School/Community Liaison Officer

Londubh Project An Inter-Agency Approach

In addition a unique Interagency Monitoring Committee supports the work of the Londubh Project.

Our Lady of Lourdes NS

HSE

Social Work Dept

St. James’s Child

Guidance Service

INTERAGENCY

MONITORING

COMMITTEE

Juvenile Liaison Services

Londubh Project Staff

Hesed House

Counselling Service

Londubh Project An Overview of the Work of the Project

During the school year 2006/07 we worked with 78 children on a weekly basis in Our Lady of Lourdes NS.

The work with the children takes the form of individual work, small group work, after school groups and summer programmes.

Londubh Project Individual Work Overall aim – to provide a supportive and safe

environment for the children at school to explore issues that may be affecting them.

-Self-Esteem Building-Decision Making

-Relationship Building-Life Story Work

-Anger Management-Non Directive Play Work

-Encouraging Protective Behaviours

Londubh Project Small Groups and After-School Groups 3 to 6 children and run for 8-12 weeks

depending on the programme content.

Sense of belonging -this can be seen in their engagement and participation each week.

Some children who were involved in group work were also being offered individual support.

Londubh Project Small Groups and After-School Groups

Selection of Programmes Time To Talk - Communication Skills Development

Incredible Years - Dina Dinosaur School

Helping Hands - Encouraging Protective Factors & Coping Skills Positive People - Positive Self Awarness & Relationships

Friends – Anxiety & Stress Management

Bubble Gum Guy - Anger Management

Volcano In My Tummy – Anger Management

Londubh Project Evaluation Independent Evaluation - undertaken by

Partners for Transformation.

This report states “Londubh is a project which is widely admired and is pointed to as an example of best practice by many of the people interviewed”.

Londubh Project Evaluation One of the main findings was that “between 93% and

97% of children participating in the programme showed some improvement in at least one area”

AttendancePunctuality

General Behaviour in Class/SessionParticipation in Class/SessionSocial Interaction with PeersSocail Interaction with Adults

Self ConfidenceMotivation

Londubh Project Evaluation

“Teachers assessed that 40.4% showed some improvement” in attendance and “punctuality the

figures were 36.2%” improvement.

Londubh Project Evaluation – What the Children Say

“Children spoke of Londubh helping them to have fun, to get on better at school, to behave well in school, to control their

behaviour, to get help with problems at home and at school, and to be kind, nice

and good”.

Londubh Project Evaluation – What the Parents Say

“Londubh is an independent, non-judgemental body in the school. I’d look for (them) if there is a problem”

“Londubh is just another part of the school to the children, they love it”

Fantastic. You could approach them at any stage…They never push anything. They listen & advise”

Londubh Project Lessons Learned Along The Way

Agency rather than person dependent. Ownership of the vision is vital. Planning time/Evaluation time. In school but not “of school”. It takes time – patience & flexibility If children engage, attendance

improves.