Meaningful Change

As psychologists we have a responsibility to support change that results in meaningful outcomes that benefit the services we support and their service users. 

An important role in the process requires us to demonstrate the importance of psychologically informed practice by engaging policy makers and legislators at a UK and Local Government level. Often this is difficult due to time constraints, the complexity of the organisations we need to influence and sometimes just the frustrations of feeling that what we do is never enough.

To consider these issues, and to provide some assistance to psychologists wishing to try to influence wider change, DFP brought together key speakers at a well-attended in person event in Newport. 

A view from the Senedd

First up at the Meaningful Change event was Naomi Stocks, a very experienced committee clerk within the Welsh Parliament (Senedd). Naomi succinctly explained Welsh Parliament, its role in making Welsh law and in scrutinising Welsh Government. She offered a clear overview of the fourteen Senedd committees including the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Children, Young People and Education Committee.

Naomi identified the manner in which psychologists can engage in this process by following the activity of the Senedd on social media and providing opinions to committees when they are considering areas we have knowledge in or suggesting areas they should be exploring.

Our very own Senior Public Affairs Advisor, Manel Tippett, then explained the BPS vision for Wales, how we can increase our influence and impact and advance our work on policy and advocacy. She shared the ways in which she can help us do this through fostering relationships within the Senedd committees, their research team, and working closely with partner organisations with shared interests and priorities.

Between them Naomi and Manel provided clear advice on how to overcome the problems related to the complexity of navigating the bureaucracy and showed us how to make this a less time-consuming process.

Working with young people in Gwent

Our next speakers then inspired us to get involved by demonstrating what can be done in practice.

Lynn McDonnell, Emma Hutchings and Katherine Connolly explained the development and sustained progress of their role as psychologists in Gwent offering consultancy, formulation, training and support to services working with young people.

They talked us through their trauma informed service model and demonstrated how a small team can affect meaningful change by engaging with other professionals at every stage of the system e.g. police, courts, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, creating a shared language and an understanding of the impact of trauma on behaviour and recovery.

Forensic Psychologists in Wales

Finally, Emma Wools, the South Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, reinforced the considerable influence Forensic Psychologists have had in Wales.

She focused on the development of the Youth Justice Blueprint and Female Justice Blueprint documents that set out the key aspirations and guiding principles for women and young people in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system in Wales.

Emma's presentation demonstrated the importance of psychologically informed systems and gave those of us in attendance hope that through working with policy makers we can positively influence meaningful change.

If you were inspired by the event or have just want to be part of influencing meaningful change in Wales please contact Manel Tippett, Senior Public Affairs Adviser (Wales): [email protected].