Enable Ireland Wicklow Children's Services
A range of therapy, social and educational services are provided to children and teenagers who have physical disabilities and to their families. Service supports are based on the identified needs and wishes of service users and are provided in active partnership with them.
Families who live in North Wicklow and South Dublin access services from the Bray base located at the Marino Centre.
Families who live in South Wicklow access services from the Arklow base, located at Scoil Eoin, Arklow Boys National School.
As services have developed the emphasis has been on promoting inclusion for children at all stages of their development, encompassing home and community based models of service delivery in addition to a centre based model.
Assessment and intervention programmes are implemented by the interdisciplinary team which brings together expertise from the disciplines of psychology, physiotherapy, early education, childcare, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social work, social care, medicine and nursing.
Families play an important role together with the interdisciplinary team, in planning to meet the needs of their children. Each family has an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) in place for their child. This is agreed at an IFSP meeting held between the family and interdisciplinary team, and is reviewed on a regular basis. A key worker system is in place for each family in order to facilitate good communication and a co-ordinated service.
An important part of the work carried out by teams is liaison with, and support and advice to teachers in relation to children who attend mainstream schools and preschools.
The EFQM framework is used to ensure continuous improvement and development within a recognised model of quality.
Services for Children Aged 0-5 Years:
Early Services
Children under 5 years and their parents avail of a range of interventions and supports. Centre and home based programmes are provided by all therapy areas and comprehensive home based early intervention programmes are provided by Early Years Educators. Many of the children attend local preschools and the interdisciplinary team liaises with preschools as required. Early Years Educators provide an ongoing link with local preschools and also with primary schools as children make the transition to school. Some children are directly supported in local preschools by Preschool Support Workers.
Services for Children Aged 5-18 Years:
Support Services
The Support Services team works to promote the real and meaningful community inclusion of children age 5-18 who attend mainstream schools. The interdisciplinary team work with the family and child to identify goals which will maximise the child’s potential in areas including friendships, hobbies, independence and learning.
Guided by families identified needs, the team offer intervention through individual appointments, group work, home, community and/or school programmes. The team recognise that children have different needs between the ages of 5 and 18 years, with the emphasis up to 12 years being on the achievement of physical milestones, and during the adolescent years in achieving social and emotional independence.
Aontas
This programme caters for children from the age of 6 years attending mainstream schools who have Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). DCD is a childhood disorder characterised by poor coordination and clumsiness. The effects impact on everyday life including difficulties with dressing, eating, writing, taking part in sport, developing friendships, and coping with the demands of school.
The team work with families to identify specific areas of difficulty and to develop strategies to facilitate the child to participate in the activities of home and school. Parents are provided with information and given opportunities to discuss approaches which they have found useful and to link with other families. Programmes are provided for schools at the request of families.
The service is time limited with intervention offered over a 6-12 month period. The team are available to families on a consultancy basis until the young person is 18.
Due to the significant demand for this service, the waitlist has been closed for new referrals for almost a year. The waitlist will reopen at the beginning of October 2009.
Marino Special National School
Enable Ireland is patron of Marino School which is located on the campus in Bray. Approximately 20 children who have physical and associated disabilities attend the school. Staff from Enable Ireland Children’s Services work with School staff to provide holistic programmes for children and their families.
