This week saw the first stage of residents moving from the James Connolly Memorial Unit in Carndonagh to homes in the community.
Three people with disabilities moved into their new home in Carn.
Planning has been underway for some time with regard to understanding from the residents as to what type of home would best suit them and looking at who would want to live together. A wide range of HSE Disability Services staff have been involved in this process. The allocation of additional funding from national HSE to CHO1 has supported this move to new accommodation and the additional staffing required to provide residents with the necessary supports.
The living room of one of the new homes.
The move is in line with national policy as detailed in the ‘Time to move on from Congregated Settings’ report.
The report recommends that people who live in congregated settings should move to their own homes in the community with the support they need. HSE services have been working with people with a disability, their families and advocacy services to progress this move to community living. This involved identifying where people would like to live, who they would like to live with and the activities they would like to be involved in within their community.
Disability Services Manager, Anita Gallagher commented “it is a very positive development to see people moving out of a large congregated setting to a smaller group home. It shows a real commitment to enabling people to live within their community. On behalf of all the local staff in Inishowen Disability Services and wider HSE management team we wish all three people well in their new home and every good wish for their future.”
Edel Quinn, Head of Service for Disabilities, CHO1 thanked all staff who had worked tirelessly to assist with this first stage. She noted that “a lot of work has been undertaken by HSE staff in preparing the new building and making sure it is a welcome space to move to. The move by the three residents to their new home has been eagerly awaited so that they can begin the next chapter of their lives. This is the start of a journey in developing and providing community housing for people with a disability in Inishowen. Community living promotes a social and human rights based model of care which is fundamental in supporting people with disabilities to live their best lives”.