NI Public Affairs Update November 2023

Open Consultations

The Department of Health is welcoming views on its plans to introduce a prototype Regional Obesity Management Service in Northern Ireland.

This new service would aim to enhance health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland by focusing on the provision of speciality clinical support, in community and hospital based settings, to address obesity.

Find out more about the Proposed Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS) for Northern Ireland.

The consultation notes the key role that psychology has in this specialist support and there will be practical and workforce issues to consider.

The BPS will be responding to this consultation and seeks your expert and evidence based views by 24 January 2024.

Should you wish to respond to this consultation please contact [email protected].

Recent consultation responses:

BPS responded to The Executive Office Consultation on the development of a Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG).

This draft seven-year (2023-2030) Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), has been co-designed with over 50 stakeholders from across government, community and voluntary sectors, and wider society, including those with lived experience.

It sets the agenda for all of government and society to end violence against women and girls. It is ambitious, long term, and wide reaching. This document is intended to be a living document, which means it will be adapted along the journey according to emerging needs.

Find out more about the Consultation on a Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls & Foundational Action Plan.

The BPS responded with the help of many members and we would like to thank members for their engagement.

The Strategic Framework set out a focus on prevention which was an approach we supported. Members provided practical and research based evidence on how the vision and outcomes in the Framework could operate in practice.

We welcomed further engagement and involvement with implementation and evaluation of the Framework from a psychological perspective.

Read our full response here.

Recent Public Affairs Activity

On 9th October 2023 BPS NI Public Affairs, Board and Committee representatives attended the Science and Stormont event organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

This event was an opportunity to foster close relations with policymakers and key stakeholders, to raise awareness and also maintain BPS NI's position within the scientific community.

Key policy focus areas

Mental Health

We recently met with the Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion to discuss funding and workforce issues impacting the delivery of the Mental Health Strategy, requesting a review of the psychological workforce as a key ask to be brought to decision makers.

Domestic and Sexual abuse and violence towards women and girls

This is a policy area BPS is currently engaged in and assisting relevant departments with consultations on government strategy.

NI Budget Cuts

The impact of budget cuts in Northern Ireland remains a key concern, particularly in the area of education and health. The health budget does not include an allowance for implementing the NI Mental Health strategy and has workforce implications as it will not cover pay parity for NI NHS staff or the UK counterparts.

Addiction Services

Addiction services generally is a policy area BPS is engaging in. In particular we are liaising with members and stakeholder partners on tackling the issue of gambling harm in Northern Ireland.

NI Government Update:

The Northern Ireland Assembly is currently not sitting.