National Award for Multi-Agency Working in Powys!

A PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOUR WINS NHS WALES AWARD

A programme to help parents, teachers and children in Powys to address behaviour problems has scooped an NHS Wales Award.

Powys Health Board worked in partnership with Powys Children and Young People’s Partnership, and Barnardo’s Cymru to support families and schools to develop skills that will help with early intervention and prevention of behaviour difficulties in children.

The development of the Incredible Years (IY) programme has today (July 4, 2012) been recognised by judges of the NHS Wales Awards in the Working Seamlessly Across Organisations category.

Shelley Davies, Strategic Manager Powys Children and Young People’s Partnership, said, “We are delighted that the work of all our organisations together to improve the lives of children, young people and their families in Powys has been recognised today with an NHS Wales Award.

“By working with parents at an early stage we can help them to develop positive coping skills that will help their children and prevent behavioural problems occurring.”

Thanks to investment from the health board and Powys CYPP, a consultant child psychologist was employed to be used as a mentor in all of the Incredible Years programmes and the results have been significant.

More than one thousand parents have attended parent groups and have shown significant improvement in parental mental health and well-being.

There has also been a significant reduction in parental reports of child behaviour difficulties.

Forty per cent of primary and infant schools have now received training in the IY Teacher and Child programmes and the benefits of the programmes have been noted in Estyn inspections.

Reviews in schools have also shown a reduction in conduct problems, hyperactivity and teacher stress.

Judging the award, Jo Farrar, Chief Executive, Bridgend County Council, said, “The Incredible Years Programme demonstrates true partnership and collaborative working at its very best.

“Touching the heart of the community and demonstrating a sustained generational impact, the now sustainable programme shows how public service organisations can deliver whole systems improvement.

“The leadership of this programme has been unwavering and is a credit to the multiple agencies involved.”

The NHS Wales Awards are presented to organisations that have showed innovation, best practice and achievement to improve the care and services provided to patients across Wales.

More than 120 entries were received this year and the judging panel had a tough task in deciding on the eventual winners of the seven award categories.

NHS Wales Chief Executive David Sissling, who presented the awards, said, “I find myself impressed year after year with the high quality of the entries submitted to the NHS Wales Awards. They are an impressive reflection of the professionalism of our staff and their commitment to safe, efficient and compassionate care.
"It is right that these excellent examples of best practice, shared across Wales, should be spotlighted and the NHS recognise the ground-breaking work of our dedicated health care staff. They are a tribute to all involved."

The NHS Wales Awards were launched in 2008 to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the NHS and are jointly organised by the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH) and Welsh Government.

Speaking at the ceremony today, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Lesley Griffiths said: "I always feel very proud to be part of ceremonies such as this, showcasing the best of the NHS in Wales.
“It strengthens my already firm belief we can and will work together to achieve our vision of the future of healthcare, as set out in our document 'Together for Health', and deliver a safe and sustainable NHS for the patients of today and tomorrow.
"I would like to congratulate each and every one of you here today, and send my congratulations back with you to the colleagues who were not able to attend, but were integral in these innovations and examples of best practice. Well done."

NLIAH Director Dr Alan Willson said that the standard of the winning work demonstrates world class ambitions and achievements.

He said, “The high standard of winning work from across Wales demonstrates that patients are benefiting from well designed and successful improvements to give them the best possible experience and outcome.

 “This is the fifth year that we have held these important Awards and it is inspiring to hear about yet more examples of excellent healthcare continuing to be developed and delivered right here in Wales.”