Total Communications Project

The Total Communications Project worksteam will provide support and education to staff in the development of awareness, skills and knowledge that underpin a rights based approach to service delivery.  This encompasses three strands;

Strand 1:  Total Communication

Total Communciation is an approach that involves using and accepting all types of communicatin, not just speech.  This approach includes facial expressions, gestures, body language, sign, sounds, symbols, written language, visuals, objects of reference and electronic communication aids.

Aims

The Speech and Language Department (SLT) in St Michael's House will develop and implement a comprehensive education package for all staff on how to support service users using a Total Communication Approach.

What is Assisted Decision Making?

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is a national piece of Irish legislation.  The Act is about supporting decision making and maximizing a person's capacity to make decisions.

The Act applies to all, and is relevant to all who work in health and social care settings.  In St Michael's House, this will impact everything we do and will need to be considered in all of our work.

What is Accessible Information?

Accessible information is information that is understood by the person who it is supposed to be for and is easily available to them.  Making accessible information is a collaborative process that involves providing people with information that is meaningful and useful.  This process involves the creation of useful tools (e.g.) accessible documents, DVD's, powerpoint presentations etc, that are used to help support people engage with information that is important and relevant for them.

What is a Champion?

A champion is defined as an individual within an organisation who has responsibility to advocate for change, motivate others and use their positions and knowledge to facilitate the adoption of a particular innovation.

The SLT Department will work collaboratively with supported decision making and accessible information champions.

The champions will consist of both staff members and service users who are passionate about advocating for a rights based approach.

A training package for champions in the areas above will be developed for use in order for this role to be sustainable in the future.