Launch of the One Good Adult Job Description (OGA-JD)

Launch of the One Good Adult Job Description (OGA-JD)

NES with Scottish Government and Education Scotland has launched the first in a suite of learning resources designed to upskill people who work (or volunteer) with children and young people in Scotland.

The One Good Adult Job Description (OGA-JD) was written by children and young people, and captures the ethos of this suite of resources, which aim to benefit children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, by upskilling the adults who support them. 

Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport and David Garbutt Chair of the NES Board launched the resource at a webinar on 11 September - which also featured the North Ayrshire Education Service and Children in Scotland, to describe the development and pilot implementation of the OGA-JD.

The One Good Adult Job Description: Purpose and Rationale

When young people are asked what helped them to cope with life’s challenges, they often talk about Good Adults who believed in and supported them and say these sorts of adults made an important and positive difference to how their lives turned out.

The OGA-JD reflects what Scottish children and young people say characterises adults who support their mental health and wellbeing. It reminds adults to be as supportive as possible to the children and young people they encounter.

How the resources will work

The OGA-JD is just one of a suite of training resources delivered by NES and stakeholders at the request of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board. All the new resources are hosted on a Digital Learning Map, and will allow staff, who support children and young people, to easily find free, high-quality mental health and wellbeing learning resources and to check if their learning and changed work practices have made any difference, in real life, to children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Karen Reid, Chief Executive at NHS Education for Scotland said:

“We’re extremely proud of the One Good Adult Job Description, co-developed by children and young people and inspired by conversations with the Children and Young People’s Network at Children in Scotland.  

“We know that positive, supportive, and nurturing relationships with adults are key to supporting children and young people to fulfil their potential and enjoy good mental and physical health and wellbeing.

"That’s why resources such the OGA-JD, which are designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, are so important and could make a real difference to how adults interact positively with children and young people in Scotland.

"We also know that collaboration is key. NES has worked across agencies to develop this suite of resources, all of which support the delivery of Scotland’s vision for children, young people and families to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.”

Judy Thomson, Director of Psychology in NHS Education for Scotland, added:

“NES Psychology worked with stakeholders across the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Joint Delivery Board to conceive of and deliver these important training resources. Our priorities have been evidence of effectiveness and evaluation of impact, consistent with Implementation Science principles.

“To this end, we have embedded evaluation tools and processes into all the resources; so, we can be sure they deliver the intended benefits, and truly assist adults to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.”

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