Services

Oasis

Oasis is the canteen located in Dunmore House. The canteen is open on all working days and caters to service users and their families, staff, and friends. Currently Oasis provides training and employment to six adults with intellectual disability. They are involved in food preparation, hygiene standards, and maintenance.

Carmona Work Enterprises

Carmona Work Enterprises provides opportunities for service users to avail of sheltered occupational activities in a range of different areas in line with their needs and preferences. The enterprise based in Loughlinstown provide training and support in sheltered occupational activities in learning new skills and in acquisition of good work habits and attitudes. In addition, it also provides support in obtaining FETAC certification at foundation level in areas of their preference such as self advocacy, horticulture, visual arts practice, art and design etc. The Willowvale centre provides opportunities to attend arts and crafts programme aimed at developing artistic and creative skills through the production of a range of arts and crafts goods.

Supported Work/Open Employment

In addition to the sheltered occupational services service users are also offered supported employment options. This can include paid employment in the open labour market or ‘enclave work’ where individuals work as part of a group carrying out a particular task.

The supported employment team is contacted if a service user expresses an interest in gaining employment, either through their Personal Outcome Measure interviews or key worker meetings. The individual’s job coach then starts to prepare the potential employee in all aspects of working in the labour market. This training covers areas such as manual handling, money management, and health and safety. A specified job coach is available on-call at all times, who will communicate with employer and employee on a regular basis. The job coach will also provide on-the-job training and support to ensure employer is fully confident that the service user can carry out the task in hand. In order to ensure a conducive work environment disability awareness training is provided to all relevant staff within the business.

The employer, employee and job coach will agree on the amount of pay and hours to be worked so that all parties are satisfied with the outcome. Once the employer is confident that the service user can perform their job independently and in a satisfactory manner, the job coach will reduce the on-the-job training. However the job coach will remain on-call at all times while the service user is in employment.

Cintra

Cintra is a horticulture programme which supplies shrubs and bedding plants for the public and wholesale. The programme provides day care service for adults with an intellectual disability. Cintra offers a range of options including integrated adult education, supported employment, and recreational opportunities. Activities included in the programme are Tai-Chi, photography, jewellery making, photography, drama and bowling.