Barnardo's

NOVA is a Barnardo’s Northern Ireland Trauma Support Service. It began in 1998 and currently offers a range of services for children, families and communities who have been psychologically traumatised as a result of the Northern Ireland conflict or more general trauma experiences. Barnardo’s NOVA service represents an active partnership between Barnardo’s Northern Ireland, local statutory agencies and local voluntary and community agencies and groups.

There are three distinct, yet interrelated, aspects to NOVA’s work:

• Trauma-focused psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. This service is provided on an outreach basis to people primarily living in counties Armagh, East Tyrone and South Down;
• Training and community capacity building in trauma-related issues. This service is available regionally and across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors;
• Influencing and dissemination through publications, conference presentations and contributions to trauma-related policy and practice.

All NOVA practitioners are social workers registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council. Some are also qualified counselling psychologists, while others are accredited psychotherapists. In addition, all NOVA staff have specialist training in treating trauma in line with current government guidelines. NOVA is committed to ongoing evaluation of all its services.

Useful key words:

• Services for Children
• Services for Young People
• Family therapy / support
• Capacity building

This organisation receives support from the Victims Support Programme for Groups Working with Victims and Survivors, to deliver some or all of the services that it provides. Its views do not necessarily reflect those of the Victims and Survivors Service.