Julie Keating June 2014

1. Julie Keating June 2014

2. What is PACS • Early intervention programme years 5, 6, 7 and 8 • Delivered over 6 weeks • Small groups 8 -12 young people • Collaboration between PACS trainers and learning mentor • Staff trained • All materials provided • No cost to the school

3. The Essex journey to PACS • Relationship with Kidscape • Agreeing delivery terms and conditions • Recruiting staff • Promoting with schools • Starting delivery • Understanding the wider picture

6. Being part of Realising AmbitionWhat does this mean for Essex? • Opportunity to participate in a significant research programme • Fidelity • Delivery closely monitored • All resources provided • Contract to deliver • Opportunity to look at sustainability of the programme

7. Programme objectives • Provide a creative and interactive programme for vulnerable and challenging young people using positive assertiveness strategies for dealing with situations of conflict. • Enable young people to understand how to use assertive behaviour in response to challenging situations. • Encourage young people to use mediation as a tool when faced with challenging situations. • Develop young people's social skills and social interaction. • Raise confidence and boost young people's self-esteem, thereby enabling them to create and sustain a stronger sense of their own identity.

8. Who is the programme for?

9. How the programme works • Week 1 – PACS trainer and learning mentor: 2 hours • Weeks 2 and 3 - learning mentor: 1 hour • Week 4 - PACS trainer and learning mentor: 2 hours • Week 5 - learning mentor: 1 hour • Week 6 - PACS trainer and learning mentor: 1 hour • Four month review - learning mentor

10. Week 1 – delivered by PACS trainer with learning mentor support • Principles of PACS • Learn the difference between aggressive and assertive behaviour • Recognise and respond to your own emotions – exercise • Video – choosing and being responsible for your behaviour • Role play – recognising emotions in yourself and others • Developing strategies to deal with challenging situations • Week 6 - PACS trainer and learning mentor • Four month review - learning mentor

11. Strategies

12. Weeks 2 and 3 – learning mentor • Incredibly important • Journal work / reinforcing messages / SDQ

13. Week 4 – delivered by PACS trainer with learning mentor support • Review – what's been working well • The last time I felt - Sharing examples of using assertive strategies • What’s up carousel and what could you do - exploring further ways of coping with difficult situations • Alphabet argument – exploring mediation • Sort it out – applying what you have learnt • I might, I could, I will… – further exploration of the days learning

14. Weeks 5 – learning mentor • Journal work / reinforcing messages

15. Week 6 – celebration and evaluation PACS trainer and learning mentor • Review of PACS principles • What they have learnt • Evaluation questionnaires • Certificate

16. Evaluating the programme • Trialled in London • Replication in Essex, Wolverhampton and Oxford • Questionnaires pre and post delivery • 4 month follow up • Opportunity to explore wider replication across the country post August 2015

17. Meet the trainers Emma Frost • Alternative education • Circles Farm Sarah Hudson • Behaviour support • Connexions

18. Meet the new trainers Fran Trotter Dawn Lowen Anne-Marie Pinkney Dawn Lowen Kim Mitchell

19. Outcomes from the London pilot • 60% of participants would no longer use violence to solve issues • 50% would try and negotiate if they find themselves in a difficult situation • 45% of students have learnt to talk calmly • 41% “count to 10” before responding • 36% will let an argument go • 29% will ask a friend for advice

20. What school’s say: • I have had some good feedback from some of the last group in terms of them helping others by using mediation and also some have had a great improvement in their relationships with others.  (Paula: Thurstable) • Thank you for your support in running the PACS groups in school we have found them to be beneficial to the children. We are already looking forward to working with you again in June!(Hannah: Cherry Tree Primary)

21. I’ve learnt from PACS that deep inside, I’m a nice person not an aggressive person. So I’m going to change my ways from now on. What student's say PACS learnt me that people do think that I’m nice and not annoying and stupid PACS has taught me I can be who I want , I don’t have to be a low life. I learnt to control my anger and to be a bit more positive in life PACS has told me that whenever I am about to hurt other people’s feelings to take a breath and turn away from them.

22. Recap: What is PACS? • Early intervention programme years 5, 6, 7 and 8 • Delivered over 6 weeks • Small groups 8 -12 young people • Collaboration between PACS trainers and learning mentor • Staff trained • All materials provided • No cost to the school

23. Getting involved • Think about how delivery could work in your school • Correct selection of students • Investing in LSA time • Supporting the research element of the programme • Complete the expression of interest form on the table • We’ll be in touch!

24. Any questions? Julie Keating Email: Julie.keating@essex.gov.uk Tel: 03330131160