60 HealtH Matters
News // DuBlIn nOrtH East
STAFF MANUAl FOR CHIlDREN’S
RESIDENTIAl CENTRES
NEW PSYCHIATRIC UNIT
FOR ADOlESCENTS
A NEW UNIT designed to treat 16-18 year
old adolescents with severe and/or complex
mental health difficulties was officially
opened at St Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview in
November. The six-bedded inpatient unit
‘St Joseph’s’ is an age-appropriate
environment for inpatient psychiatric
treatment for older adolescents, not
previously available in the public sector. the
catchment area for the unit is Dublin North
east, however, some referrals have been
accepted from other parts of the country
where there is currently no such service.
+ (l-R): Donal McCormack, HSE Regional Manager, Residential Childcare Services; Minister for Children and Youth a multidisciplinary team that includes
Affairs, Barry Andrews TD; Phil Garland, HSE Assistant National Director for Children and Families and Pat Dunne,
psychiatrists, nurses, a clinical psychologist,
Assistant National Director PCCC pictured at the launch.
speech and language therapist, social
worker with sessional input from a
A NEW POlICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAl for use by staff members working in both dietician and physiotherapist who provide
statutory and non-statutory children’s residential centres and a young person’s version of the 24/7 care and treatment for the young
manual ‘Your Guide to living in Residential Care’ have been introduced in the Dublin North people. Doctors in Child and adolescent
east region. Psychiatry from the Mater, temple street
the Policy and Procedures Manual is the result of the review and amalgamation of policy and St Vincent’s hospitals and Child and
documents for children's residential centres in the former North Eastern Health Board and adolescent Mental Health services in
the former Northern Area Health Board, now HSE Dublin North East. ‘Your Guide’ was Navan, Co. Meath provide the on-call
developed to inform young people in care about the different policies that are in place in cover for the unit in a unique model of
residential centres to help them understand when, how and why certain decisions are collaboration. the Hse provided the
made about their care. The Irish Association of Young People in Care (IAYPIC) facilitated the c3.2m funding for the refurbishment and
development of this unique guide which is written by young people in care and presented in equipping of the unit and plans are currently
a format that uses language that they can understand. ‘Your Guide’ aims to provide young underway to increase its capacity to 12
people with information to help them become more involved in the decisions that are made beds in the future.
about their lives.
STRESS lEVElS RISE AS RECESSION BITES
THE COMMUNITY MENTAl HEAlTH TEAM in West individuals from a variety of backgrounds, but who had all
Blanchardstown has seen an increasing number of referrals experienced anxiety, depression, lack of direction and low
as people seek help for the emotional distress triggered by confidence. the group covered topics such as career interest
unemployment and the recession. the Community Occupational assessment, goal setting, information on local resources,
therapist's role involves working with individuals whose lives volunteering and time-management. The participants who all
at work, home or in their social groups have been disrupted for showed moderate improvements commented in their feedback
some reason. Interventions may include managing stress and sheets that they had learned: “not to give up on yourself”, “I’ve
anxiety, developing healthy routines, exploring new interests, goal- achieved more than I thought I did”, “I can sometimes be too
setting, linking with community resources, lifestyle balance and hard on myself” and “there are plenty of opportunities out there
confidence-building. for me”.
Group work can be an efficient way of offering interventions to ‘Horizons’ meant that individuals received Occupational therapy
greater numbers of people. Jackie Fox, Community Occupational intervention in a more timely manner and will be held again in the
therapist recently ran a pilot group called ‘Horizons’ for five future if similar referrals continue to be received.
HM Iss6.1 p1-70.indd 60 12/03/2010 15:17:19
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