This session sets out our methodological approach to whole systems change in Wales to achieve the ambition of a ‘Wales Without Violence’. Extensive work over the last two years has resulted in the Wales Without Violence Framework an evidence-led, trauma-informed and co-produced Framework that offers nine strategies for the prevention of violence between children and young people. This innovative approach will be explored in terms of how it was co-produced, the role of behavioural science in influencing the behaviour change we want to see.
Chair:
Dr Joanne Hopkins, Public Health Wales and Visiting Professor, Wrexham University
Emma Barton, Wales Violence Prevention Unit, Public Health Wales
Violence among children and young people (CYP) is a complex societal issue that has detrimental impacts on the health and well-being of children, young people, and adults throughout their lives. Population health research tells us that CYP are adversely at risk of experiencing violence and are at higher risk of experiencing multiple forms of violence. However, evidence suggests that prevention approaches are most effective when implemented with CYP and can have positive health, well-being, and social impacts across the life-course.
The Public Health Wales Violence Prevention Team and Peer Action Collective Cymru have coproduced a strategic multi-agency framework for the prevention of violence among CYP in Wales. The first of its kind to be developed in the United Kingdom, this national framework acts as a guide to strategic action on youth violence prevention, amplifying the voices of children and young people, and provides evidence of ‘what works’ for prevention.
There isn’t one catch-all solution or one agency that has the answers to youth violence prevention. Instead, we need to work together to develop a whole systems approach that will call everyone to action. This evidence-informed, coproduced framework used an innovative participatory design process to listen to the voices of a diverse range of stakeholders, highlighting the voices of CYP. Informed by the views and experiences of over 1,000 people in Wales, and grounded in the lived experiences of approximately 500 CYP, the Framework proposes nine strategies to prevent violence among CYP as part of a public health approach to violence prevention. These strategies represent evidence-based approaches proven to reduce violence among CYP, address the risk factors for youth violence, and build individual, community and societal resilience.
Useful Resources
Bryony Parry, Violence Prevention Unit, Public Health Wales
Embedding a public health approach to violence prevention requires professional behaviour change and systemic transformation.
Behaviour change models are beneficial in exploring influences on professional practice. Following the publication of the Wales Without Violence Framework, the Violence Prevention Team, Public Health Wales, has been on a journey to explore how behavioural science can be used to support the implementation of a public health approach to violence prevention. Using the Framework’s nine violence prevention principles as a foundation, the team engaged with professionals spanning multiple sectors across Wales to translate these principles into practice through the identification of core behaviours. This then enabled a discussion on the challenges of eliciting such behaviours, utilising the COM-B model.
This presentation will set out the process developed by the team to explore the behaviours that underpin a public health approach and the barriers to adopting them. It will also explore the complex and cross-cutting barriers and facilitators professionals face when implementing a public health approach, at both the individual and system level, to enable consideration of the professional support needed to embed this approach.
Useful Resources
The Wales Without Violence website: includes the Framework and additional resources to support understanding and implementation
The Behavioural Sciences Unit website: includes a guide for each of the six steps of the behavioural science process
The Behaviour Change Wheel: sets out intervention functions and categories which correspond with the COM-B model
Joseff Bromwell, ACE Hub Wales, Public Health Wales
ACE Hub Wales partnered with the Co-production Network Wales and community leaders to explore how the wider system can support communities to maximise positive experiences of compassion, kindness, inclusivity and humanity as we strive toward a trauma and adverse childhood experienced-informed nation. This presentation will look at how the work looked to co-designed opportunities for communities of place, interest or experience to have conversations about the topics that matter most to them in order to further our understanding of why people are motivated to be involved in co-production. The work aimed to co-create a tapestry of voices representative of individuals and communities from across Wales, ensuring that our positive experiences of hope, love and compassion that exist alongside challenges we face, individually and collectively, are heard.
Dr Joanne Hopkins, Public Health Wales and Visiting Professor, Wrexham University
The Women’s Justice Blueprint and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Hub Wales launched the research report: ‘Understanding the health needs of women at risk of entering the criminal justice system in North Wales’ this year.
Through the work of the Women’s Justice Blueprint, it was recognised that there was a correlation between health and involvement with the criminal justice system. With funding from ACE Hub Wales, the Blueprint commissioned the research to explore this further.
This study, which was undertaken by Connie Williams from the Wallich, investigates the healthcare needs, barriers to access, and the role of unmet health needs for women in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system. The research focuses on the first-hand experiences of women in North Wales, prior to any involvement with the criminal justice system in relation to their primary health needs (mental and physical health). The research used a mixed-methods approach including a focus group with professionals and questionnaires and interviews to gather the first-hand experiences of women.
The report was presented to probation and health practitioners at the HMPPS Wales Health Road Show at the North Wales Women’s Centre.
Useful Resources