Action on ACEs has launched a pilot scheme to trial ACEs toolkits for organisations and communities. The kits have been developed by Gloucestershire County Council’s children and families commissioning team as part of a strategy to embed an ACEs approach into services and contracts.
Produced in partnership with public health teams and supported by the ACEs panel, the rollout of the toolkit is part of ongoing work under action six of the Action on ACEs countywide strategy to “incorporate ACEs informed approaches into relevant organisational policies, strategies and contracts.”
ACEs panel member Wendy Williams, Assistant Director integrated commissioning children and families, is responsible for delivering action six of the strategy, she said: “We think it is essential that an ACEs informed approach is embedded into organisational thinking, including contracts, to work alongside existing safeguarding policies and screening tools. The toolkits provide an opportunity for commissioned providers to start a conversation about ACEs and develop an greater understanding of the importance of resilience and hope.”
The toolkits are already being used within the commissioning area and have been very well received. The Pilot will assess if the tools are “transferable” to be used in other contexts outside of children’s commissioned services. They have been launched to a selected number of trailblazing providers, delivering services to families and communities, as part of a 12-week pilot scheme. The scheme will be evaluated to assess their usefulness, the types of conversations they create, as well as the barriers and challenges providers may face when discussing ACEs.
Over 30 organisations and community groups are going to be piloting the toolkit in a variety of different situations and scenarios which should present some interesting findings for the evaluation.
The pack contains:
- Credit card size tool fold out information leaflet, to help produce a universal understanding of ACEs and resilience to encourage the conversation.
- Community tool designed for community groups, organisations and foster carers to help provide additional support using the 5 ways of wellbeing method.
- Professional tool to embed ACEs into plans and assessments. This will support conversations between young people and trusted adults, helping providers to work in an ACE informed way.
The pilot begins in May. Results of the evaluation will be published in the winter. To find out more, contact actionaces@gloucestershire.gov.uk
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