Supported Decision Making: A Practice Perspective: Disability Special Interest Group

Date: 8th November 2024

Time: 9.30 am – 3 pm

Venue: Carlow College, St Patrick’s, College Street Carlow, Co Carlow R93A003

Cost: Social care Worker €20/Student €10/Person with a Disability Free

Social Care Ireland are delighted to welcome back the Annual Disability Special Interest Group Conference. The conference will be chaired by a representative from the Disability SIG Janine Zube. The theme of this years conference is to explore where social care workers practice is currently when it comes to the Assisted Denison Making (Capacity) Act 2015. We have a jam packed day which we hope you enjoy.

Keynote: Áine Flynn, Director, Decision Support Service

Presentation title: “The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the role of the Decision Support Service”

This will cover the key provisions of the Act, including the tiers of support, the guiding principles, the role of the DSS, the functional assessment of capacity, who is eligible to become a decision supporter, how to search the DSS register, how we supervise decision supporters and investigate complaints about them and decision support arrangements. Aine will also be able to provide an update on the number of arrangements registered, the number of wards that have exited wardship and the types of investigations we have been undertaking as well.

Biography: Originally from County Down, Áine graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a law degree and M.Litt. by research. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1999 and from 2012-2017 was a senior partner in Dublin firm, KOD Lyons, specialising in public interest law. She was on the panel of legal representatives of the Mental Health Commission and the Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board from their inception in 2006 and represented wards of court instructed by the General Solicitor. Áine has written and lectured on human rights and holds a further qualification in quasi-judicial decision-making. Áine has been a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society since 2012. Prior to her present appointment, she was a member of the Law Society’s Mental Health and Decision-Making Capacity Task Force. In October 2017, Áine commenced in post as the first Director of the Decision Support Service under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

Keynote: Josephine McLoughlin and the Social Ability Group for persons with Intellectual Disability

Presentation title: Our keynote speech will explore the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities who are part of our advocacy group. We will share personal stories that highlight the importance of community, empowerment, and self-advocacy in enhancing the quality of life for our members. A significant portion of our speech will focus on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, with an emphasis on its Guiding Principles. We will discuss how these principles serve as a foundation for good practice in assisted decision-making, ensuring that the rights and dignity of individuals are always upheld. We will also delve into practical approaches to supporting the expression of will and preference,
demonstrating how these methods enable individuals to take an active role in decisions that affect their lives. By sharing these insights, we aim to inspire a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by people with intellectual disabilities, while also advocating for the continued development and implementation of inclusive decision-making practices.

Biography:
Social Ability Carlow Kilkenny is a dynamic self-advocacy group formed in 2017. Our members, who bring a wealth of lived experience with various disabilities including autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental health challenges also reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community. We strive to ensure that people with disabilities in Kilkenny and Carlow are empowered to live autonomously, have their rights to equality upheld, and are recognized as active, valued members of the wider community. We are a dedicated group of 12 individuals with disabilities who actively engage in self-advocacy. Our commitment to making a difference is demonstrated through our monthly meetings and various field projects. Today’s speakers are Finan Reddy, Wael Hakim, Kate Whitely and Darragh Hayden.
Josephine Mcloughlin is the advocacy facilitator for Social Ability and the Director of Legal Capacity Training. She is an experienced diversity and inclusion professional with over 20 years of experience in the field of disability as a frontline practitioner and in the formulation, delivery and evaluation of pioneering training and interventions aimed at protecting human rights. She has worked alongside voluntary organisations, local authorities and private sector organisations across Ireland. Josephine helps create inclusive teams and cultures which nurture
collaboration, empathy and diversity. She is passionate about advocacy, building awareness and creating a sense of empowerment for individuals. Josephine holds a BA in Social Care, a LLM in International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy from NUI Galway and in 2015 was awarded the CDLP Gold Medal for Excellence. She continues to build on her knowledge and skills completing a Certificate in Decision-Making Capacity and Support at the Law Society of Ireland in 2018, 2023 and is currently undertaking a Diploma in Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Inclusion at the UCD Professional Academy.

Keynote: Ciara Palmer Quality Patient Safety Advisor for Disability Services and Assisted Decision Making

Presentation title: “An experience of Assisted Decision Making within a community service setting”

Biography: Ciara Palmer is the Quality Patient Safety Advisor for Disability Services and Assisted Decision Making Quality Patient Safety Advisor Lead in CHO DNCC within the Health Service Executive (HSE). Before joining CHO DNCC, Ciara worked in the Quality Assurance Verification Division within the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE. She was the Lead Risk Advisor on National Working Group on Dysphagia Management and a member of McCraith review team who conducted a review into CervicalCheck issues. Ciara conducted a scoping exercise on international systems and best practice of patient safety alerts from a national perspective. She reviewed and analysed HSE National Policies relating to quality and risk management together with providing a suite of training to support the policies. Prior to joining the HSE, Ciara worked as a Risk Manager for a voluntary subacute rehabilitation facility in Dublin North. Ciara was a Legal Executive with a number of top 5 law firms for 13 years specialising in the area of medical negligence and regulatory complaints. She holds a BA in Law and a Graduate Diploma in Healthcare (Quality & Risk Management). Ciara completed a Masters in Healthcare Management with the RCSI in 2023. Her Masters capstone project explored the implementation of the principles of ADM in CHO DNCC.

Keynote: Michelle Carter: Social Care Worker and Trainer in Positive Ageing in Intellectual Disability.

Presentation Title: Nothing About Me without Me

This presentation will share professional experience of supporting adults with intellectual disability in making decisions around all aspects of their lives such as health, social and financial decisions. The importance of empowerment, instilling confidence and being proactive to enhance good lives will be emphasised. Examples of decision making in practice will be shared as well as supports around future decisions, particularly around future care planning, retirement and social connections. This presentation will also reflect on Data from IDSTILDA around decision making.

Biography: Michelle Carter is a Social Care Worker and Trainer in Supporting adults with Intellectual Disability to age positively. Michelle has 24 years’ experience in the field of Intellectual Disability as a frontline practitioner, many of these years as a Person in Charge in Residential settings. Michelle holds a BA in Social Studies and a Masters in Ageing Health and Wellbeing in Intellectual Disability. As well as working in Residential, Michelle has experience as a field researcher for IDSTILDA on the last wave of Data Collection which was published in November 2023. Michelle has a special interest in supporting adults with Intellectual Disability and ensuring their rights are upheld and that they are involved and included in all decisions around all aspects of their lives. Her research highlighted areas that needed further work and support such as ensuring those we support are involved in all decisions around future planning, future health care and retirement planning as well as relationships and connections. She is actively focusing on all these areas now through workshops which she facilitates for staff.

Agenda

9.30 – 9.45:  Opening address by Fr. Conn

9.45 – 10.45: Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service

10.45 – 12.15: Josephine McLoughlin and the Social Ability Group for persons with Intellectual Disability

12.15 – 1 pm Light lunch of soup & sandwiches T&C

1 pm – 1.45 pm: Ciara Palmer Quality Patient Safety Advisor for Disability Services and ADM

1.45 – 2.30: Michelle Carter Social Care Worker and Trainer in Positive Ageing in Intellectual Disability

2.30 – 3 pm Panel discussion and conference close

Carlow College is wheelchair accessible with an accessible bathroom. There will be free parking on campus on the day of the event

Unfortunately due to budgetary constraints we don’t cater for any dietary requirements but we can recommend some cafe’s in the locality.