Participation Network - Supporting the Public Sector to engage children & young people

What we wanted

In 2003 the Health Estates Agency of DHSSPS established a Project Management Board and a Project Management Team to oversee the design of a Secure Care Centre at Lakewood. Representatives from the following bodies were invited to sit on the Board:

• The Eastern Health and Social Services Board
• Heath Estates
• Ulster Community Hospital Trust
• Members of staff from Lakewood
• A member of staff from VOYPIC
• Design Team, following appointment

The first months were spent dealing with past problems in the existing Lakewood Centre and investigating the design of similar Centres in Scotland and Wales. Staff members of the Lakewood Centre and VOYPIC visited a Secure Care Centre in Scotland and took photographs to use in the proposed consultation process.

The process was started in 2003 and the building was completed in 2007.

How we did it

The Lakewood Manager was keen to have young people involved in the design of the new Centre. It was decided by the Project Management Team to engage 7 current residents and a number of past residents of Lakewood.  Many of the representatives of the public authorities involved were fearful of what the young people may suggest and were wary of raising unrealistic expectations. VOYPIC designed the consultation process in conjunction with Lakewood staff.

The VOYPIC member of staff met with the young people a number of times to establish a relationship with them. She drew up an individual interview schedule to bring them through their daily routine e.g. getting up, getting washed and encouraging them to record what it was like for them, what their first experience of the Centre was like and what changes they would like to make. For example, the existing classroom facilities were located near their bedrooms and they requested that these be moved to a separate section of the building, as it was more like a “real school”. They also recorded that they didn’t have enough choice of subjects, had little to occupy them in the evening and they had no outdoor space. They were shown photographs of other facilities and were able to make choices based on these.

As part of the pre-tender process a report on the young people’s views was made to the Project Management Board who were very impressed with the quality of the feedback and input from the young people. It was then agreed that 3 young people would be trained by VOYPIC in interview skills to enable them to participate in the tendering process for contractors to carry out the work. This was a new development for the Health Estates Agency staff who were initially wary of young people’s involvement at this level although they quickly realised the added value and acknowledged that their contribution was fresh and informed. In the event one young person sat on the interview panel.

The Contractor built a 'mock-up' of a bedroom and the young people were able to test out the durability of the materials and to show young people the overall plan.

What they said

As a result of the initial interviews a number of changes were made immediately.

Lakewood asked Department of Education to fund 2 additional teachers to increase supervision and flexibility to provide the young people in the secure units with greater access to classes in the main school and to be taken out for educational trips.

A room in the link corridor between the 2 secure units was made into a ‘Health and Beauty’ salon which was used for recreational and educational purposes.

An office in Shamrock was converted into a room for the use of young people e.g.; for activities, family visits.  This increased the space available to young people and the options for where family visits take place.

Shortly before the final plans were signed off, a debate arose as to the young people’s request for a perimeter wall (which could be landscaped) rather than the proposed fence. The young people’s views were respected and a wall was built.

A new ethos of engagement with young people was established at Lakewood and staff reported that they had a stronger identity with the building as a result of their involvement in the design.

The representatives of the public authorities involved recognised the added value of involving young people and were impressed by the quality of the input of the young people in the process.

There were constraints placed on the engagement of the young people as they were living in secure accommodation and any consultation had to be carried out in the Centre. Many of the young people found it difficult to engage in group work and had to be consulted individually. However, VOYPIC would now recommend that the young people should be involved at an earlier stage in the process.

Involvement in the design of a building involves learning a degree of technical language e.g. developing a Business Plan and would require additional support at the early stages.

Any fears about unrealistic expectations on the part of the young people were alleviated when the members of the Project Management Board heard their views and met with the young people. The only request that was turned down was for a swimming pool! The young people were aware of and respected the boundaries in relation to their involvement and co-operated well with the whole process.