What is Community Facilitation

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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.

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What we do

• Medicals
• Advocacy
• Fundraising
• Employment skills
• Sourcing of jobs
• Personal Assistants provide coaching in the
  following areas
• Home management
• Hygiene
• Cooking skills
• Shopping

• I.P.s
• Named Staff
• Supervision
• Networking
• Group Work
• Housing
• Information Gathering
• Counselling
• Budgeting
• Education
• Benefits

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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

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HOW THE SERVICE HAS GROWN?
2001
2008
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How we work with people

• Individual contact

• Group Work

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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.

• Social Welfare Department
• National Learning Network
• Multi-cultural Agencies
• Educational Training
• Employers

• Consultant Psychiatrist
• for Learning Disability
• Community Psychiatric Nurse
• Castlebar Counselling
• Psychotherapy centre
• Family Centre
• National Counselling Service
• G.P.s/Dentists/Opticians

• Mayo County Council
• Castlebar Town Council
• RAS
• Landlords

• Social Services Centre
• ISPCC
• Neighbourhood Youth Project
• Work Web West
• St. Vincent de Paul
• Meals on Wheels
• Citizens Information Centre

• Health Board Executive
• Social Work / Community
• Welfare Officer / Public
• Health Nurse / Hospital Clinics
• Aras Attracta
• Addiction Centres

• Gardai
• Probation Services
• Solicitors
• Redress Board

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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

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• Travel Individuals love to explore places
  theyve 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.

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• Mental Health individuals experience
  mental health issues on a daily basis
  including Depression Family
  Difficulties Loneliness
  Bereavement Suicidal feelings Role in
  society

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What the Drop-In offers
Opening the door to the community!
Group Work Healthy Living Safety Self
Esteem Assertiveness Relationships Sexuality
Fire Training Smoke Alarms Extinguishers Emergency
Services
Mens Group Health Social Opportunities Sexuality
Social Event Calendar 3 monthly basis Organised
by Group
Breaks Away Foreign Trips Short breaks in
Ireland Day Trips
Social Relationships Friendships Celebrating Socia
lising
Safety in the Community Talks by relevant
personnel Self Defence Personal Alarms Taxis
vetted Safe Sex
Social Events Concerts / Plays Birthdays Housewarm
ing Engagements parties
Self Advocacy Supporting committee , Access
information, source speakers, etc.
The idea is that people use the Drop-In as a
spring board to access the community
Confidential Trusting
Non-judgemental Safe Supportive
Friendly
Therapeutic Activities Relaxation Art Drama
Mime Clay Work Music Yoga
Information Sharing Rights Entitlements
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Inclusion in the Community
Employment Dunnes, Centra, Homebase, Supervalu,
Parsons, McDonalds, Upper Crust, Welcome
Inn Bowling Alley
Hobbies Gym, Poetry, Drama, Swimming, Drumming
, Shopping.
Living 31 people living in the community
Clubs / Organisations Folk Choir, Prayer
Group, Man U Supporters Club, Writers Group, Art
Group, Self Defence,
Celebrations Birthdays Christmas Christenings Enga
gements Easter
Voluntary Work Age Action Personal
Assistants Personal Shopper Meals on Wheels
Education Computers, Art, English, Literacy