Transcript Community Facilitation

What is Community
Facilitation?
• It is a confidential person centred service which is
in existence since 2001 in the Castlebar Area.
• We provide support to adults living independently
in the community and also support people who
are moving towards independent living.
• People availing of Community Facilitation are
offered an individualised, positive, original &
innovative service.
What we do
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I.P.’s
Named Staff
Supervision
Networking
Group Work
Housing
Information
Gathering
Counselling
Budgeting
Education
Benefits
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Medicals
Advocacy
Fundraising
Employment skills
Sourcing of jobs
Personal Assistants
provide coaching in
the following areas
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Home management
Hygiene
Cooking skills
Shopping
Focus Areas
Personal Safety
Social Inclusion
Relationships
Childcare
Rights
Education
Health
Employment
Loneliness
Isolation
Poverty
Suicide prevention
Bereavement
Assertiveness
Entitlements
Abuse
Personal Hygiene
Personal Finance
Friendships
Anger Management
Legal Issues
Depression
HOW THE SERVICE
HAS GROWN?
18 People
12 women
6 men
Age 19 - 60
Living Situation
Own homes 0
Renting privately 11
Living at home 5
Home Sharing 2
Council apartments/houses 0
Other 0
Employment
Employed 12
Seeking Employment 2
Training 3
Work Experience 0
Sheltered Employment 1
Full Time Mum 0
Not seeking Employment 0
35 People
25 women
10 men
Age 21 - 63
Living Situation
Own homes 4
Renting Privately 15
Living at home 3
Home Sharing 0
Council apartments/houses 15
Other 1
Employment
Employed 13
Seeking Employment 8
Training 5
Work Experience 1
Sheltered Employment 1
Full Time Mum 2
Not Seeking Employment 5
How we work with people
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Individual contact
Group Work
Liaising with other Agencies
Considering the variety of issues that are dealt with on
a daily basis, good working relationships with other
agencies is vital.
•Consultant Psychiatrist
•Mayo County Council
for Learning Disability
•Castlebar Town Council
•Community Psychiatric Nurse
•RAS
•Castlebar Counselling &
•Landlords
Psychotherapy centre
•Family Centre
•National Counselling Service
•G.P.’s/Dentists/Opticians
•Health Board Executive
Social Work / Community
Welfare Officer / Public
Health Nurse / Hospital Clinics
•Aras Attracta
•Addiction Centres
•Gardai
•Probation Services
•Solicitors
•Redress Board
•Social Welfare Department
•National Learning Network
•Multi-cultural Agencies
•Educational Training
•Employers
•Social Services Centre
•ISPCC
•Neighbourhood Youth Project
•Work Web West
•St. Vincent de Paul
•Meals on Wheels
•Citizens Information Centre
Changing Responses
• Sexuality – individuals have identified the area
of sexuality as very important for them. We
enable people to address areas such as sexual
orientation, intimate relationships,
contraception, sexually transmitted infections
and other such areas that they request
information on. This is done on an individual
basis and also in group work.
EXPECTATIONS
Relationships
Engagements
Marriage
Children
• Addictions – alcohol addiction is an area that
has come to the fore in recent times. Getting an
addiction counsellor or place in a treatment
centre can prove difficult as the person may
require extra supports that may not be available,
i.e., literacy skills. Vulnerability, personal safety
and health are also areas for concerns when
dealing with addictions. Binge drinking and
vulnerability around it, i.e., rape, abuse, physical
assault, psychological confusion.
• Housing – the area of housing has always
remained high on the list and continues to do
so. We have developed a good working
relationship with Mayo County Council and
Castlebar Town Council. Currently there are 15
people who have apartments / houses provided
by the Council and we will have a further 8
apartments in a new development which should
be completed by March 2009. We also have a
“Training Flat” which is used by people wishing
to try out independent living for themselves.
• Parenting Skills –We work alongside the
Mothers and families together with other
agencies (Social Work Department of HSE, NYP
& ISPCC) to provide them with the necessary
skills to create a loving, caring and happy home
environment in which the child can grown up &
feel safe in. We also support Mothers and
families to deal with any difficulties,
responsibilities and challenges that may arise.
• Conflict Resolution –involves acting as a
mediator between individuals who may
experience communication difficulties. It also
involves working with the Gardai & Probation
services to ensure that people adhere to
directives given to them by both the Gardai and
Court systems.
• Travel – Individuals love to explore places
they’ve never been. Small groups have
experienced & visited Lanazorte, Spain,
Portugal, France, Majorca, Scotland, England,
Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Clare & Kerry. This
has expanded to couples and groups of friends
travelling for day trips, weekends away, etc.
Mental Health –
individuals experience
mental health issues on a daily
basis including
Depression
Family Difficulties
Loneliness
Bereavement
Suicidal feelings Role in society
What the Drop-In offers
Group Work
Healthy Living
Safety
Self Esteem
Assertiveness
Relationships
Sexuality
Safety in
the Community
Fire Training
Smoke Alarms
Extinguishers
Emergency
Services
Men’s Group
Health
Social Opportunities
Sexuality
Social Event
Calendar
Social
Relationships
Friendships
Celebrating
Socialising
3 monthly basis
Organised by Group
Talks by relevant personnel
Self Defence
Personal Alarms
Taxi’s vetted
Social Events
Self Advocacy
Safe Sex
Concerts / Plays
Supporting committee ,
Birthdays
Access information, source
Housewarming
speakers, etc.
Engagements parties
Confidential
Trusting
Non-judgemental
Safe
Supportive
Friendly
Therapeutic
Activities
Relaxation
Art
Drama
Mime
Clay Work
Music
Yoga
Information
Sharing
Rights
Entitlements
Breaks Away
Foreign Trips
Short breaks in Ireland
Day Trips
The idea is that
people use the
Drop-In as a
spring board to
access the
community
Inclusion in the Community
Employment
Hobbies
Dunnes, Centra, Homebase,
Supervalu, Parsons,
McDonalds, Upper
Crust, Welcome Inn
Bowling Alley
Gym, Poetry,
Drama,
Swimming,
Drumming ,
Shopping.
Living
31 people living
in the community
Clubs / Organisations
Voluntary Work
Age Action
Personal Assistants
Personal Shopper
Meals on Wheels
Folk Choir, Prayer Group,
Man U Supporters Club,
Writers Group,
Art Group, Self Defence,
Celebrations
Education
Computers,
Art,
English,
Literacy
Birthdays
Christmas
Christenings
Engagements
Easter