Brothers of Charity | IB SURVEY
Supporting those with intellectual disabilities The Brothers of Charity Services Limerick offers support to those with intellectual disabilities – and has just joined the local Chamber of Commerce, writes Norma Bagge, Director of Services.
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he Brothers of Charity Services Ireland provide services to over 6,000 people with an intellectual disability, and employ over 3,500 staff. As a Section 38 agency, we are funded by the HSE. Like all companies, we are operating in a very difficult and challenging environment where budgets are being squeezed and services are under threat. We are committed to our mission and ethos in trying to ensure that we maintain the services people require while recognising that the model of service must change and adapt if we are to continue to provide high quality, sustainable services into the future. The mission statement of the Brothers of Charity Services looks to support the person with an intellectual disability to become a full citizen of this State, enjoying the rights and taking the responsibilities that are experienced by the wider population. The Brothers of Charity Services was established in Limerick in 1973 and was developed to provide early assessment and diagnosis of children, along with providing adult day and residential services for those with intellectual disabilities. In many ways, we took responsibility for the person and provided for all their needs. In more recent times, guided by our mission statement and in line with universally changing expectations, we recognise that our services must be more integrated into the wider community,
thereby giving the person with an intellectual disability the opportunity to experience and develop in a more diverse and inclusive environment. In our residential services, we are moving away from congregatedtype settings where large groups of people with an intellectual disability live together, towards working with housing associations to access suitable accommodation in the community, thereby giving the person with an intellectual disability the opportunity to integrate into a normal way of life. In our day services we are working towards reducing the numbers of people attending centres owned by the Brothers of Charity Services and identifying alternative facilities, e.g. resource centres in communities that we can use to enable those with intellectual disabilities to be more visible, to develop their full potential, benefit from working with others, contribute to society and enrich the lives of those with whom they work. It is, however, in the area of work placement and sourcing job opportunities that we struggle. Many of the people who attend our services have skills and talents that businesses would value. After initial mentoring, some of our men and women have already successfully moved into gainful employment with the support of our staff. The Brothers of Charity Services Limerick decided to join the Limerick
"In more recent times, guided by our mission statement and in line with universally changing expectations, we recognise that our services must be more integrated into the wider community"
Norma Bagge, Director of Services, Brothers of Charity Services Limerick.
Chamber of Commerce as we recognise the importance of building relationships with the business community, being proactive in harnessing the opportunities that exist for finding meaningful jobs and work experiences for the people who attend our services. As a new member of the Chamber of Commerce, we are looking to the corporate and business coommunity for support and would be extremely interested in having a conversation with companies in the Limerick area as to how we can work together and progress to create actual work opportunities. For more information, call 061 487081 or visit www.brothersofcharity.ie.
114 Q3 2012 | InBusiness
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