SMH Staff Newsletter - Spring 2024

LeinsterRugby

Following on from their Charity Sponsorship in December 2023, lucky winners of the Leinster Rugby ticket competition attended the Leinster rugby match in the Aviva Stadium in January! A fab time was had by all, and everyone was delighted to cheer for Leinster in their match against Stade Francais! The cherry on top was getting to see Leinster come out on top as winners of the match. We want to say a massive thank you to Leinster Rugby for the tickets, and to AirCoach for nominating us in the Charity Partnership

StaffSpotlights

MynameisAnneO’BrienandIamaSocialCareWorkerspecialisinginSocial HousingwithSupport.OverthecourseofmycareerIhave ASDResidentialServices,SupportedHousing,andavariety HomelessServices IhavebeenwithStMichael’sHousefor IamfromDublin,Ihavetwosonsaged22yrsand19yrsan interestinallthingsDIY!

IamtheHousingCompliance&TenancySupportManage istoensureStMichael’sHousemeetsourstatutoryobligat anApprovedHousingBody,providingsocialhousingforpe withadisability IprovidesupportandinformationtoStMic HouseResidents,DayServiceUsers,staff,andfamiliesasa onallhousingrelatedmattersforexample:RentSupport,Social Housing Applications, Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions (RSSMAC) and Rent Contributions, and Housing Adaptation Grants I am part of the Estates Team, and also work closely with the Finance Team, Residential and Day Service teams, Clinical Supports Teams, theHorizonsprojectandtheCommunitySupportTeam

LeanneWalsh

My name is Leanne and I am the Community Sport and Physical Activity Manager, and I have been working in SMH for six years I worked as a Social Care Worker in both day service and residential before I took on my current role. I think my time working in both day service and residential really gave me the insight and experience neededforthisjob

Inmycurrentrole,myfocusistodevelopsustainableopportunitiesfor people who use our services to be able to participate in different Physical Activity of their choice i.e. Football, golf basketball swimming ECT I work very closely with partners in the community to improve social inclusion trough sport and activity A large part of my job is around communication with frontline staff, sports clubs and local sports partnerships, so I can facilitate a wide range of physical activities that people can take part in. I work closely with the team in the Leisure Centre and the Activity Hub to plan and organise events and initiatives throughout the year A lot of my day will include deliveringactivitiesandsportstopeopleallovertheorganisation

AnneO’Brien

StaffSpotlights

SarahWarren

MynameisSarahWarren,andIamaClinicalNurseSpecialist(CNSp) inDementia.IamaregisteredIntellectualDisabilityNursewith13years post-registrationexperience,workingfull-timeintheareaof IntellectualDisabilityNursingwithinSMH Istartedmycareerasastaff nurseintheCaraunit DuringmytimeworkinginCara,Ifoundmyniche innursing!So,Ifurtherdevelopedmyprofessionalskillsintheareasof dementiaandpalliativecare.

IamaCNSpofDementiainIntellectualDisability Myroleentailsseveral keyresponsibilitiesintheareaofpost-diagnosticsupport,aimingto providecomprehensivecarethatdeliversaperson-centredapproach throughoutthecourseofaserviceuser’sdementia.Myultimategoalinmy as a CNSp is to provide holistic support that enhances the quality of life livingwithdementia,whilealsoofferingguidanceandsupporttotheirfam

My name is Raymond Galligan and I am a PIC in Saoirse Hub I’ve beenwithSMHeightyears IstartedasDSWinTuras,andthenmoved on to a SCW, and then became PIC in Turas I then moved on to NutgroveandfinallyovertoSaoirseHub.We’renowinourthirdyear.

I find it so rewarding, and love being able to see the progress of the service users, and being able to move them in a positive direction I alsolovehowrewardingitis,andlovemakingsureserviceusershave the chance to have as many opportunities in life as possible. Guiding them through their employment opportunities has been fantastic to see It’s so exciting to see everyone ’ s different interests and abilities I alsolovehowinvolvedthefamiliesare,andit’sgoodtobeabletosee themsupporttheserviceusersinmakingtheirowndecisions

RaymondGalligan

CastleMindfulnessSeminar

In January, Castle held a Wellness Day which included an Interactive Education session with the SMH Dietician Department, a Mindfulness Art session with their Art Teacher, a cupcake decoratingsession,andofcourselotsofmovement(dancing)!

SMHGreenTeam

TheSMHGreenTeamhasbeenestablishedinordertoensureSMH arealignedwiththeTheHSEClimateActionStrategy2023-2050 thisstrategyaimstoachievenet-zeroemissionsby2050and providehealthcarethatisenvironmentallyandsociallysustainable Wehaveobligationstoachievethisunderthegovernment'sclimate actionplans.

InApril,GoatstownchallengedalloftheSMHservicesina BinDecoratingChallenge!Withprizestobewon,the competitiondeadlineis31May Pleaseemail GreenTeam@smhietorequestabinforyourservice!

International Women’sDay

We celebrated International Women’s Day across all of our services this year. From breakfast mornings, to adventures in town, the womenofStMichael’sHouse honouredthedayinstyle!

St.Patrick’sDay2024

St Patrick’s Day was a perfect cause for celebration across all of our services From Artane Hub doing the céile,, to Saoirse Hub’s fab Paddy’s Day party, the spirit of the day was well andtrulycaptured!

DisabilityServiceAwards

AmassivecongratulationstoourSports&LeisureDepartmentfortheirimpressivewinsatthe DisabilityServiceAwards!Nominatedintwocategories:BestCommunityEngagementInitiative andBestDisabilityOrganisationSeniorManagementAward.Theteamtookhometheawardsin bothcategories!Welldonetothewholeteamonthisfantasticachievement

SMHWorkAbilityProgramme

OursupportedEmploymentProgrammehasjustreceivedfiveadditionalyearsoffunding. WorkingunderthenewnameWorkAbility,theWorkAbilityProjectisco-fundedbythe GovernmentofIreland,throughtheDepartmentofSocialProtectionandtheEuropeanUnion. Theprojectwillrunfrom2024-2028andwillsupportindividualsovertheageof16yrsto prepare,trainandgainmeaningfulemploymentinthecommunity Thisprojectwillalsofocus ondeliveringdisabilityawarenesstrainingtoemployersandtheirstaffwhoengagewithour WorkAbilityTeam

StMichael’sHouseFoundation

In2023,StMichael’sHouseBoardofDirectorsreceivedcharitable statustoestablishtheStMichael’sHouseFoundation Thepurpose ofthefoundationistosupportandelevatetherangeandqualityof servicesthroughcapitalprojectsforSMHandSMHschools

WearedelightedtowelcomeJonathanPowerasthenewCEOofSt Michael’sHouseFoundation

Jonathanhasover16yearsoffundraisingexperience.His expertisespansnot-for-profitorganisationsandonline sectorsandhisdonor-firstapproachdrivesafundraising strategytomaximisefinancialreturns,donorretentionand key donorrelationshipbuilding.

Ifyou’relookingtofundraisewithinanyofyourservices, pleasereachouttoJonathantolethimknow!Hewillbe abletoprovidedirectionandassistance

JonathanisbasedinBallymunHQandcanbecontacted atjonathanpower@smhfoundationieor0862006431

at communications@smh.ie