As the CITICESS project enters its final phase, Ballyhoura Development continues to build on the knowledge and experience gained through collaboration with partners across Europe, helping to shape more citizen-centred approaches to social service delivery in Ireland.

Recent CITICESS activities have brought together staff, stakeholders and practitioners to share learning from the Ballyhoura Breakthrough Pilot, strengthen trauma-informed practice and showcase how international innovation can be successfully adapted to meet local needs.

Watch the Ballyhoura Breakthrough Video Case Study

Ballyhoura Development is proud to launch a new video case study showcasing the Ballyhoura Breakthrough Pilot and its adaptation of the internationally recognised Breakthrough Method to the Irish context.

Developed as part of the CITICESS Interreg Europe project, the pilot supports families experiencing multiple and complex needs through person-centred coaching, relationship-based practice and coordinated support. Originally developed by the Municipality of Heerlen in the Netherlands, the Breakthrough Method has been successfully adapted through the SICAP programme to reflect the realities of rural Ireland.

The video features the experiences of families, practitioners and partner organisations involved in the pilot, demonstrating how collaboration, trust and community-based solutions can help improve outcomes for families while strengthening partnership working across services.

Watch: How the Ballyhoura Breakthrough Pilot has adapted the Breakthrough Method to the Irish context, supporting families through person-centred coaching, partnership working and innovative community-based solutions.

Sharing Learning Through the CITICESS Masterclass

The launch of the video formed part of the CITICESS Masterclass, held online on 25 June, which brought together participants from Ireland and across Europe to explore the learning emerging from the Ballyhoura Breakthrough Pilot.

Presentations from Ballyhoura Development highlighted the importance of relationship-based practice, family coaching, advocacy and coordinated support, demonstrating how placing families' priorities at the centre of service delivery can lead to improved engagement and better outcomes.

Participants also heard emerging evaluation findings from Inclusion by Design, highlighting encouraging progress for participating families, stronger collaboration between agencies and valuable learning for future policy and practice. The pilot has demonstrated the value of coordinated, person-centred support while also identifying the structural challenges of delivering this approach within Ireland's centralised service system.

Building Trauma-Informed Practice

Alongside the Masterclass, Ballyhoura Development hosted a Trauma-Informed Care workshop, providing staff and stakeholders with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of how trauma can influence people's lives, relationships and engagement with services.

The workshop explored practical ways of embedding trauma-informed principles into everyday practice, encouraging approaches that promote safety, trust, collaboration and empowerment. As organisations increasingly support individuals and families experiencing multiple and complex needs, understanding the impact of trauma is fundamental to delivering compassionate, person-centred services.

As CITICESS progresses towards its conclusion, Ballyhoura Development remains committed to sharing learning locally and internationally, ensuring that the experience gained through the project contributes to stronger partnerships, improved practice and more citizen-centred social services for the future.

Read More About CITICESS Project