Client Services division is made up of the following departments: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Leisure Recreation and Physical Activity, Speech and Drama, Catering, Dietetics, Transport, Occupational Activity Centres and GP Services.
Unit A is a residential centre for 40 people with severe, profound and
multiple handicaps. There are 32 long-stay residents. Five beds have been
designated for flexi-stays and 3 beds for crisis intervention, which provide
short term care for children and support for hard pressed parents and families.
Programmes are continued throughout the year in sensory stimulation,
physiotherapy, computers, self-care, gross and fine motor skills, socialisation,
swimming, play and occupational activities.
Unit B is for people with
severe mental handicap, many of whom present challenging behaviour. There are
42 beds fully occupied throughout the year. Programmes include sensory
stimulation, computers, social skills, and occupational activities. Upgrading
of the day rooms and bed rooms continued through the year and this improved the
environment for both clients and staff.
Tracton House is the location for
the development day centre and the pre-school service. The children who attend
these services come from centres within the foundations as well as others who
come from the family home on a day basis and for whom special transport is
provided. The development programmes include self-help, gross and fine motor
skills, socialisation, language, swimming, physical education, play and
occupational activities.
This unit caters for 18 people who have a severe degree of mental handicap, 12 of whom are in residence, while the remainder attend daily. The clients and staff in the Unit ran a very successful sale of work at the end of 1994, following a tremendous effort by all to introduce new arts and crafts programmes. This programme will help to prepare the clients for our occupational/activation centres.
Glasheen Centre comprises 3 services: a residential hostel, a sports and
leisure centre, and work units.
One hundred and eighty people with a mild,
moderate and severe degree of mental handicap attended during the year. Most
live at home, while the others reside in hostels provided by COPE Foundation.
The majority use public transport to get to and from the centre each day.
The
work units provide a setting in which people are helped to grow in self
knowledge and independence, and are helped to develop good self image and a
sense of responsibility. Physical education, swimming, bowling and evening club
activities are organised for anyone wishing to avail of them.
The hostel
caters for the needs of 18 people who have multiple handicaps. Twenty four hour
care is provided. A general practitioner visits once a week and is on call at
all times if needed . The physiotherapist and the occupational therapist visit
on a regular basis. The clients attend the Leisure Centre regularly for
activities organised by the physical education staff.
Within this centre there are 6 hostels providing full time residential care
for a total of 59 clients, who have varying degrees of learning and intellectual
disability. A total of 41 staff provide 24 hour care.
The philosophy within
the hostels embraces a holistic approach to meeting the needs of the clients.
This is done by promoting independence and socialisation, and through the
provision of a family orientated environment within a home-like setting.
Hygiene and personal grooming, dressing skills, household skills, occupational
activities and leisure activities are incorporated into the programmes.
The
residents of the hostels in Blarney also attend Hollyhill Centre on a day basis.
In
Hollyhill Occupational Centre the clients are assisted to function as well as
their limitations will allow in all aspects of their daily lives. Programmes
include: contract work, music therapy, arts and crafts, self care skills,
domestic skills, leisure activities and weekly programmes held in the School of
Art.
We encourage a sense of responsibility under good supervision. This
will enable people to achieve greater independence within the community.
We
hope also to achieve through individual programmes in training and self-care a
basic style of independence, which will lead to good behaviour and good social
habits.
This will prepare them for a better life-style and for greater
independence.
The staff of COPE Foundation would like to thank the tutors
and students of the College of Art and Design who share with our clients their
knowledge, skills and friendship.
Midleton workshop caters for 33 clients some of whom travel daily from the
family home, while others come for the adjoining hostel.
A variety of
activities and programmes are carried out during the day, with emphasis on
craftwork, such as weaving, knitting, papier-mâché, sewing and
flower arranging. Other activities included in the programme are literacy and
numeracy, self care/social skills, social outings, physiotherapy and P.E. in the
local G.A.A. hall.
There is a significant input from the local community,
with regular visitors.
It is hoped in the near future to have Midleton
workshop passed by An Bord Altranais as a suitable placement for student nurses,
whose input will add a new dimension to the Midleton Centre.
COPE Foundation now has residential accommodation for 311 people in 45
community-based hostels in the City and County of Cork.
1994 saw the opening
of the hostel in Kanturk. Ten clients reside in the hostel, where the staff
have established a warm, homely environment in a relatively short time. Clients
enjoy a programme of activity in very pleasant surroundings and are all content
and happy. Much of this has been made possible by the involvement of the local
community who have been very supportive. All other hostels continue to enjoy
similar community support and attention.
The Domiciliary Service continued in 1994 with visits to 49 families. The
intervention depended on individual needs. Individual home based programmes
were established. Referrals were made for psychological assessments,
physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Information was given
on entitlements and respite care, and various arrangements put in place in
liaison with other health care professionals.
Further developments included
the setting up of twice yearly physiotherapy reviews for infants whose progress
is also monitored by the domiciliary nurse within the home.
Courses in
relaxation techniques were held for parents/guardians of clients in Mitchelstown
and Hollyhill hostels, thus enabling parents and guardians to transfer these
techniques to the home setting.
COPE Foundation provided 58 clients with respite care during 1994. A total of 8 beds have been assigned to provide respite care throughout the foundation.
The School of Nursing, located in Montenotte House, had a total of 50
students in 1994: 14 in 1st year, 14 in 2nd year, 13 in 3rd year and 9
post-graduate students. All the 3rd year and post-graduate students passed
their State Final Examinations in November 1994.
During 1994 a Public Health
Nurses' Course commenced in University College, Cork and COPE Foundation staff
provided theoretical and practical input.
Montenotte House continued to be
a centre for education for all staff members. In-service training continued in
manual handling, fire-safety, management of challenging behaviour, motivation
and student nurse assessment. These courses will be a continuing part of
in-service training.
The aim of Occupational Therapy is to help clients achieve their optimum
level of independence in activities of daily living. This is done through
individual and group work, focusing on developing skills such as hand function,
perception and play. Individuals are also trained in specific self care skills
such as feeding, dressing, toileting and grooming.
The 2 therapists
continued during the year to provide this service weekly to the children in
Scoil Eanna, St. Paul's School, Unit A and Tracton. Group work is used as a
medium in each area to work on social skills and on sensory-motor programmes.
Priority
continues to be given to those who also have a physical handicap. Being as
mobile as possible is essential for independence and often necessitates the
provision of special wheelchairs and buggies. Regular visits are made by
parents and staff to the appliances advisory centre, where assessments and
demonstrations of special equipment are carried out.
The department provided
a prevocational assessment on all school-leavers which contributed to the
planning of programmes in the Vocational Training Centre.
Education and
training played an important part in the development of successful therapy
programmes. During the year the "Sensory Diet" course was again held.
Staff from St. Elizabeths and the County hostels attended.
An added
facility to St. Paul's School was the setting up of the multi-sensory room with
specialised equipment. This provides a stimulating and relaxing environment for
the children.
COPE Foundation services are recognised officially by Trinity
College as a placement for Occupational Therapy students and 3 students chose to
spend their required placement in COPE Foundation.
Children and adults with mild to severe degrees of physical disability
attend therapy sessions on a continuous basis at the Physiotherapy department
located in Tracton House. Individual and group therapy programmes are directed
and guided by the physiotherapist and 2 nurses. Treatment plans are determined
by individuals' needs, and it is often necessary to combine various
physiotherapy systems to find the best programme which will lead each client to
achieve maximum function and mobility. A problem solving team approach
continues to be used in the department in liaison with occupational therapists,
teachers and nurses.
Student nurses have a 2 week placement in the
Physiotherapy department and this is augmented by lectures on physiotherapy
techniques in St. James' School of Nursing.
Relaxation therapy programmes
are being implemented in many areas of COPE Foundation, such as, in the schools,
training centres and residential settings, and these are of great benefit to
clients and to staff.
The success of the physiotherapy programmes has
continued through the carry-over of maintenance and progressive therapy which is
being implemented by nurses and assistants in the client's own familiar setting.
This department provides a service to the pupils in the schools of COPE
Foundation. The speech teacher visits each classroom regularly and provides
tapes and visual aids. The Derbyshire Language Scheme is used throughout St.
Paul's School. Children from the special classes attached to St. Paul's School
also receive weekly lessons.
Pupils attending Scoil Eanna, Scoil Bernadette
and the Vocational Training Centre receive the services of the Drama Therapist.
Sessions are carried out either in groups or individually through the medium of
drama. this medium is very successful for teaching. The L.A.M.H. (Language
Alternative for Mentally Handicapped) method is implemented for those who do not
communicate verbally.
Children from the special class at Mercy Convent,
Mallow, continue to receive weekly language lessons. Pupils at St. Killian's
School, Evergreen Street, receive a weekly service. Language classes are
conducted once a week at Glasheen and Hollyhill Centres.
The Adult Centres
at Midleton, Macroom and Mitchelstown are visited once a term to supplement a
language programme already in operation.
Leisure, recreation and physical activities are essential to everyone's
well-being and with this as the objective the Leisure, Recreation and Physical
Activity department continued to provide input to the clients in all sectors of
COPE Foundation.
For some people these activities were held in ordinary
settings for example, in community swimming pools, bowling alleys, leisure
centres, health studios and clubs, while for others it was necessary to make
provisions in special settings.
Some individuals, because of the nature and
extent of their disabilities, required specially adapted programmes in which
considerable sensitivity was needed to stimulate yet gently challenge the
person. Swimming and passive physical exercise for clients in St. Elizabeths
and for some of the older clients, are examples of such interventions.
At
the other end of the scale, very rigorous, supervised programmes of physical
activity, field games, weight training and fitness were part and parcel of the
programmes for pupils of the schools and trainees of the training centres.
Health-related
fitness and postural correction programmes have been introduced and are proving
very successful. A researcher has been appointed whose remit includes the
development of teaching packages in these areas.
A number of our clients
participated, once again, in Special Olympics. Glasheen was the venue for
Munster Uni-hoc competitions and this required a great deal of organisation and
commitment from staff.
The number of volunteer helpers has continued to
increase and we would like to thank them for their service and support.
A fleet of 16 vehicles, all adapted to allow wheelchairs access, meets the transport needs of the clients attending COPE Foundation services. These vehicles convey people between the family home and the respective day service, between special residential settings and day services, and in addition, are used for outings, holidays, social clubs, and special events. To augment the transport fleet a new 20-seater bus, specially adapted for wheelchair users, was purchased.
The Vocational Training Department provided a number of specifically structured programmes designed to train, support and challenge young individuals in their transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Skillbase,
a work adjustment programme, provided a variety of training activities for a
total of 93 individuals.
Thirty three first year trainees experienced a
comprehensive range of occupational activities which included: Catering,
Printing, Woodwork, Light Engineering and Industrial Sewing. Ongoing
assessments during this period ensured a detailed profile of trainee needs,
culminating in individual training programmes as they progress to 2nd year
training.
Thirty one trainees entered 2nd year training which was structured
to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to a working environment.
Emphasis here was on the orientation of each particular trainee towards that
specific area of occupational activity at which he/she is most likely to
succeed, and achieve full potential.
The design and delivery of 3rd year
training focused mainly on placement. Twenty nine individuals undertook
specific training under the Employment Development Team. During this period,
trainees sampled different work sites under a Job Coach.
Upwards of 200 work
experience sites have been developed and areas of employment include the
services industries generally, horticulture, retail, catering, carpentry,
factory operatives, industrial stitching and the construction industry.
In
1994, the Employment Development Team worked with 71 young individuals in open,
supported and sheltered employment settings, and also in apprenticeships and
other mainstream training.
This programme featured a range of craft and industrial contract activities
with the main focus directed towards the development of inter-personal skills,
social intergration and community awareness. Twenty three people participated
in these modules and subsequent placements were mainly in occupational
activities within COPE Foundation Services.
Holding a position in employment
requires not only technical but also appropriate social skills. Individual
needs in this context are met through functional literacy and numeracy, personal
well-being, social, recreational and physical fitness programmes.
This sheltered workshop provides meaningful work in nine departments in H.E.L.P. Industries, Vicar's Road, Togher. A total of 157 individuals are employed throughout the 9 departments.
Continues to widen its customer base through the product range: bank bags, sporting bags, bunting, shopping bags, lagging jackets and silk screening.
A wide range of work is undertaken in these 2 departments, including shrink-wrapping, mailshots, night-lights assembly, assembly of units used in the security industry.
Manufactures domestic and butcher twine, and strapping for commercial and industrial purposes.
Secured a number of additional contracts during the past year, including decorative railings and gates, crowd control barriers, car trailers, plant holders and fencing posts used in agriculture.
This department which manufactures disposable surgical theatre gowns also produces curtains, bed linen, duvets and tea towels.
Specialises
in engraving, directional signs and identification badges. This department has
recently secured an agency from a major wholesale trophy and gift distributor.
A wide range of quality furniture is manufactured in addition to the traditional hotel, bar and restaurant furniture. This department has turned its attention to the built-in and free standing furniture market which should provide a challenging experience for all those working in this department.
Total number employed at year end ..............514
Total number of
full-time employees ..............429
Total number of part-time employees
...............85
In line with management reorganisation, the review of COPE Foundation's personnel procedures continued for 1994.
The Foundation operates a defined benefit scheme for all employees who
joined before 1st January, 1988 providing benefits based on average final pay.
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Foundation, being
managed by Irish Life Assurance plc. The contribution rates are determined by a
qualified actuary on the basis of triennial valuations.
The most recent
actuarial valuation was carried out at 1st January, 1993 and confirmed that the
value of the fund was sufficient to meet accrued benefits on a discontinuance
basis.
All other qualifying employees are provided for by the State
Nominated Health Agency Superannuation Scheme which provides defined benefits
for all members.
Under this Scheme the Foundation is responsible for paying
all benefits arising and these costs are to be reflected in the annual
Department of Health allocation towards funding.
In accordance with the provision of the Safey, Health and Welfare at Work
Act, 1989, COPE Foundation is committed to complying with the terms of the
legislation.
A Safety Statement has been published and will be reviewed on a
regular basis.
This division consists of the Social Work and Psychology Departments and is based at 9, Dyke Parade, Cork. The staff provides support to the many service centres in COPE Foundation.
The Social Workers aim to facilitate clients to be as independent as
possible and to attain and maintain a satisfactory quality of life. This is
done both directly through individual casework, and indirectly through working
with families, advocacy, inter-agency liaison and mobilising resources in the
community.
The department organised groupwork for parents of pupils who
joined Scoil Eanna in 1994. The participants found the experience of coming
together and sharing concerns very beneficial. The Social Workers also carried
out groupwork with selected workers from Mallow workshop and HELP Industries,
separately, in which the issues surrounding interpersonal relationships were
addressed. Many topics were dealt with in the day-to-day work of the department
and those recurring consistently included issues of sexual abuse, family
violence, problems with accommodation and pregnancy/single parenthood.
The main aims of psychology are to enable individuals to develop coping or
adaptive skills, to help people to come to terms with various stresses and
life-events and to eliminate or reduce inappropriate or maladaptive behaviour.
The Psychologist visited the various sectors of the organisation for these
purposes and worked closely with staff colleagues. Periodic formal and informal
assessments were carried out in partnership with other members of staff.
Typical issues that were presented to the psychologists included problems of
self-esteem, anxiety, aggression/violence, depression, bereavement. The
department continued its support to Charleville and District Association for the
Handicapped on a sessional basis during the year.
The following research projects were completed during the year: the Enchancement of Health Related Fitness of Individuals with a Mild Mental Handicap: A Survey of Pupils with a Mild Mental Handicap; A Survey of Pupils who attended St. Killians Remedial School; Attitudes of Parents to Sexuality and Sexuality Education; Vocational Outcomes of Graduates of Scoil Bernadette. A pilot project on enhancement of the physical appearance of people with mild mental handicap was completed and as a consequence a more detailed and extensive study was set up.
A total of 582 individuals were assessed during the year - 326 initial assessments and 256 reviews. The service is based at 9, Dyke Parade, Cork , and about two thirds of the work was carried out there. In order to make the service more accessible clinics where held in various centres throughout the county. The service visited Mallow 11 times, Bantry 7 times, Skibbereen 5 times, Fermoy 4 times, Kanturk and Charleville 3 times and Michelstown once.
COPE Foundation continues to organise and maintain a part-time remedial service for children with learning problems who do not have access to a remedial teacher in their own school. 47 pupils were catered for in 12 classes in this vital service. Classes are currently held in Cork City, Bantry, Mallow Carrigtwohill and Skibbereen.
COPE Foundation, in association with the Department of Education, held the
21st, and final, Remedial Teachers' course during the year. Thirty three
teachers graduated in June 1994.
In August 1994, the Department of Education
notified COPE Foundation that this course was to be discontinued, and would be
replaced by a course in remedial education organised by the Education Department
at University College Cork. COPE Foundation can look back with pride at its
pioneering work in remedial education and its valuable contribution to the
in-career development of teachers in both mainstream and special education since
the early 1970's. COPE Foundation provided premises, facilities,
administration, financial and professional support for the remedial teachers'
course since it inception, and gave a high degree of co-operation at all levels
to the Department of Education personnel in co-ordinating and delivering these
courses.
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