Dear Familes & Carers,
I hope this letter finds you well. As we approach the summer months, I wanted to share some important updates.
As you may be aware, we have been experiencing a significant shortage of appropriately qualified staff. This has impacted disability charities across the country, with St. Michael’s House being one of many having to navigate through this deficit. St. Michael’s House are members of the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers (National Federation); the umbrella group which represents the not-for-profit service providers supporting people with disabilities and autism across the country. We are working closely with the National Federation to ensure challenges facing service users, families and organisations are clearly articulated nationally.
Ongoing challenges with recruitment, funding and the lack of new premises impacts our ability to provide additional essential services, support programs, and provide certain resources to those we support. As you can imagine, the demand for our services has only increased. We believe that every individual deserves access to quality care, opportunities, and support. To ensure that our mission continues to thrive and make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities and/or complex needs we need your help.
One of the most impactful ways to advocate is by engaging with your local representatives, especially in an election year. By voicing the importance and urgency of new and additional funding for disability charities, you can play a vital role in ensuring that our community receives the support it deserves.
To provide you with a clearer picture of our current situation, we have included an infographic detailing our current challenges, and we hope the attached will assist with engagement with your local representatives. Your support and advocacy can make a significant difference. By joining forces, we can ensure the voices of people with disabilities and/or complex needs is heard and listened to and together, we can overcome these challenges and continue to make a lasting impact.
In other news, St. Michael’s House are looking at a different way of managing our residential services over the coming months. The Director of Nursing, and her team, will assume responsibility of the nurse led residential houses in adult services in St. Michael’s House. As this changeover over occurs, a member of the team will introduce themselves to families.
We are also in the process of reviewing our governance structures across all day and residential services across our Adult Services. During this process, the Director of Adult Services for Service Area 1 has assumed responsibility on an interim basis for both service area directorates, accompanied by a reconfigured service area management team. Conor Kenny, the Director of Adults Services, and members of the service area management team, will advise service users and their families of the new structure in the coming weeks.
We are now offering Strengthening Rights Training to families and supporters. People with Disability can face discrimination, lack of provision for their needs and barriers to being included in society. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) helps ensure that People with Disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Learning more about the UNCRPD can help families when supporting their family members and seeking extra support/services for them. We strongly encourage families to sign up for our training programme. This course will take place online and last 90 minutes. If you are interested in participating, please email us at rightssmh@opentrainingcollege.com and we will get back to you with details.
Finally, in 2023 the Board of St Michaels House received Charitable Status to establish a Fundraising Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to support and enhance the services delivered to service users through fundraising activities. The Foundation will operate as a separate fundraising entity and has its own CEO and Board. It is hoped that this new initiative will lead to a real and lasting expansion of much needed capital projects, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Jonathan Power as CEO of The SMH Fundraising Foundation. He can be contacted at jonathan.power@smhfoundation.ie
As always, should you wish to discuss any matters that are important to you, please arrange to meet with the relevant Person In Charge (PIC) or a Service Manager in the first instance. Should you wish to meet with me, please contact my office to arrange an appointment at suzanne.doherty@smh.ie or phone 01- 8840204.
Thank you for your continued commitment and dedication to St. Michael’s House.
Kind regards,
Liz Reynolds | CEO St Michael's House
Strengthening Rights Training Information (click on image below)
St Michael's House Funding- Election Info (click on image below)
