Our latest annual report is available here:
Our AGM (via MS Teams) is on Monday, 14th June at 7pm. If you would like to attend, please email agm@abilitywest.ie or call Carol on 091 540911.
A little note to thank all of our volunteers for their time, commitment and dedication to the children and adults availing of our services. This is National Volunteering Week and we just wanted to tell you that you are appreciated!!
Have a look at our Volunteer Newsletter which includes a digital form for completion (by existing volunteers). We would be grateful if you had a few minutes to complete this form which will inform our volunteering requirements for the foreseeable.
This is an explainer video about the Assisted Decision Making. 2286_HSE_Assistant_Decision_Making_E14 on Vimeo
The HSE has published information on the website about the Act: Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 - HSE.ie
Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (irishstatutebook.ie)
DECISION SUPPORT SERVICE
Welcome to the Decision Support Service website | Decision Support Service
Ability West is holding a Family Forum on Tuesday, 4th May 2021, at 7:00pm, on Zoom. All individuals availing of our services and their families are welcome to attend. Please contact Carol at 091 540911 or Carol.Browne@abilitywest.ie to request registration details.
We hope to see you there!
This link provides information on school leavers with disabilities and their families as they recount their experiences of transitioning from school to adult services. This project represents a joint partnership between school leavers, their families, Disability Service providers and HSE Ireland in Co Galway. https://bit.ly/3wuRa1M
Webinar to provide families and people with disability with supports around self-care during the pandemic. The webinar will be recorded and will be available on our website after the event.
Topic: Reducing stress and increasing well-being – how to care for yourself and access psychosocial supports during and after the pandemic
Target Audience – people with disabilities, their families and carers who support them
Description:
This webinar, hosted by the HSE Disability Services, will be held on Friday, 23rd April 2021 from 11:30am – 1:00pm.
The webinar will introduce participants to the National Psychosocial Response to COVID-19 Framework and will feature a number of speakers who will discuss the importance of wellness and supporting one another, self-care and outline further practical support services that are available free of charge to people with disabilities, their families and carers.
The event is free to attend.
Please register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b4d6t9ybQpyB7UlCYCbNwg
Please check your spam/junk folder after you register to ensure that you receive confirmation and the link to join the webinar.
In line with our revised Constitution which states that “The first Family Forum each year will nominate two unrelated family representatives to the Board, we are now inviting Expressions of Interest from family members to join the Board of Directors.
A "family member" means the parent, grandparent, legal guardian, sibling, spouse of a sibling, child of a sibling, aunt, uncle, spouse of an aunt or uncle or child of an aunt or uncle of a service user. [Constitution/Memorandum of Association, 3 (j)]
Charity directors are the people who exercise control over, and are legally responsible for the management of a charity. Although directors are volunteers, the role of a charity trustee carries significant responsibility. The Board of Directors of Ability West is collectively responsible for the oversight of the organisation and while charity directors can delegate tasks, they cannot delegate accountability.
The right mix of skills and experience is considered for the composition of the Board to ensure its effectiveness and as a result of a recent skills analysis, we are seeking nominees preferably with knowledge of service delivery in a healthcare setting or legal experience (particularly the Companies Act 2014 and/or Charities Act 2009) to the Board. Please note that experience in these fields is also not a requirement for prospective directors.
An Information Session about the role of directors will be held on 12th April 2021 at 7pm, via Zoom. Please email Carol.Browne@abilitywest.ie or call 091 540911 if you wish to participate in this session.
A role description will provide you with specific information about being a director with Ability West.
Expressions of interest must be submitted, by 26th April 2021, in writing to the Chief Executive at Blackrock House, Salthill, Galway, H91 R254 or email ceo@abilitywest.ie, outlining the relationship to your family member availing of our services, providing details about your skills, experience/background and if possible, enclosing a CV. Shortlisting will be completed by the Nominations Committee which comprises the Chairperson, Company Secretary and a Director of the Board.
A Family Forum will be held on 4th May 2021 at 7pm to finalise this process.
Check out Brooklodge’s Health and Wellbeing Newsletter which has some great information, tips and recipes for you to enjoy.
We were delighted for Colum McNabb, who avails of services in our Meitheal Centre, Moycullen, and whose brilliant poem ‘Sunny Minds’ was published in the Galway Advertiser (edition 11 March 2021). Colum wrote the poem with the aim of bringing joy to people.
WEBINAR: Medicines Management and Nutrition Policy in #disabilityservices - HSE National Disability Services Quality Improvement in conjunction with the National Dietetic Lead in Strategic Planning and Transformation. The target audience for this webinar is disabled people, staff (nurses, social care workers, care assistants, key workers, speech and language therapists, dieticians, chefs etc) management, carers & families.
Date/Time: Friday, 12th March 2021 from 12 noon to 2pm.
Please click on the following link to register:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HDbad3a7R02BoQuM3QUqLQ
Early booking is recommended as places are limited.
Documents are now available to download please click on links:
National Framework for Medicines Management in Disability services https://bit.ly/3pPTP1m
Nutrition Policy https://bit.ly/3sNDrjI or www.hse.ie/nutritionsupports (along with Toolkit) under the Healthcare Professionals Section
Photo by Cliff Booth from Pexels
HIQA inspections in October and November 2020 highlighted very serious concerns in Ability West Services. Ability West sincerely apologises for these. We have taken immediate action to protect the individuals in our care and to reassure them, their families and friends.
Teach Michel was re-inspected by HIQA in January 2021. HIQA found that Teach Michel is now compliant and also noted the significant improvement has been made since the inspection two months previously. We await a re-inspection in Sylvan Services and hope for an equally positive outcome.
Ability West welcomes HIQA inspections and feedback at all times. We currently have 29 designated centres registered with HIQA.
In 2020, Ability West had 25 HIQA inspections.
Ability West typically achieves HIQA compliance rates higher than the national average.
This has been consistent since the introduction of national standards in late 2013.
In 2019 Ability West achieved 92% compliance across all services (against a national average 92% compliance). This standard was maintained at 95% compliance in 2020 for Quarters 1, 2, and 3.
Unfortunately, 2 out of the 25 inspections at the end of last year revealed that standards in these services were not in keeping with regulations at that time. We deeply regret that this had been the case and we have responded swiftly and confidently to address all issues that were raised.
Ability West put in place comprehensive ‘Compliance’ Reports (action plans) for both Sylvan and Teach Michel Services which were implemented as a priority. All actions identified have been completed or are still in progress and as noted above the impact of these actions has already been verified in Teach Michel Services by HIQA.
Ability West supports people with intellectual disability, many of whom have additional complex support needs. This includes autism and mental health difficulties such as severe anxiety, compulsive behaviour patterns and communication disorders. COVID-19 has meant that the typical provision of services and supports in Ability West have been severely disrupted with the long-term closure of day services, abrupt changes to daily routines and structure, staff illnesses or absences long-term. Additionally, people we support in residential services have not been able to visit with family and loved ones. This has been particularly difficult for service users especially those with limited communication or do not understand ‘why’ this is happening.
The focus of Ability West is on people we support and one of our Core Values is Person-Centredness. We look forward to the roll-out of the vaccination programme for persons with intellectual disability, as well as staff and carers. This will mean services and supports can return to “normal” as soon as possible.
We also look forward to visits with families and friends returning, reconnecting with our fantastic communities and volunteers, and embracing all of the things we have missed since March 2020.
Audrey Pidgeon
Chief Executive
With reference to recent media articles regarding two HIQA inspections in our services, Ability West wishes to assure all stakeholders about actions that have followed immediately after the inspections and in recent months since these inspections. Ability West acknowledges these HIQA inspection reports and recognises that the exceptional concerns identified fall below the standard of care and quality of service provision normally delivered in our services. We have responded to both inspections with comprehensive and robust compliance plans addressing topics such as Protection, Residents’ Rights, Positive Behaviour Support, Staffing, Governance and Management and Risk Management Procedures.
Ability West has maintained communication with residents, families, staff, the HSE and all other relevant stakeholders since these inspections were completed. HIQA registration has been maintained in both services and we will continue to work hard to meet our regulatory requirements.
Check out our latest vacancies which include:
Community Support Workers
Day Services Manager - Slí Eile Services
Behaviour Therapist
Day Services Manager - Blackrock House Services
All details are available on our Careers Page:
A COVID-19 vaccine will offer protection from coronavirus. Right now, we still need to keep our distance, wash our hands and do everything we can to protect each other from #COVID19. For factual, expert information visit: www.hse.ie/covid19vaccine