The Multi-Disciplinary Team.
	The Multi-Disciplinary Team comprises of an Honorary Medical Officer, Community Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech & Language Therapists, a Pastoral Care Person/Chaplain and a Psychiatrist. Their work is conducted through individual and group work and they are available to support/guide families as requested and will visit people in their homes should the need arise The Honorary Medical Officer provides St. Joseph's Foundation with a general medical service as well as clinical support to the Multi-Disciplinary Team. The Speech & Language Therapist There are several ways to express language.  Speaking, using natural gestures or sign language, writing and using computerised communication devices are a few of the most common modalities.  A Speech & Language Therapist assesses speech and language development and develops an intervention/treatment plan based on the assessment results.  Children & adults may be treated individually, in small groups and/or within the consultative and collaborative (staff and family) education and training basis.  Speech & Language Therapists work as part of a multi-disciplinary team approach.  Areas of intervention include the following: articulation/oral motor for speech production, eating/drinking and swallowing, Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), Receptive and Expressive language and vocabulary, social/pragmatics and overall functional communication to the best of one's abilities. Please click here for more information The Occupational Therapist  O.T. focuses on the ability of an individual to perform daily life tasks. This involves assessment of motor, process, sensory and development skills in daily activities, such as, dressing, bathing, writing and play. This takes place across environments i.e. home, school, work and during recreation Intervention may be therapeutic to improve the motor, sensory, social and cognitive function or adaptive to provide for specialised equipment. Intervention can be individual or in groups and takes place in most appropriate environment. The OT works within a team and with families to realise a person’s potential and improve their quality of life. The Physiotherapist assesses abilities, implements and/or advises on interventions to enhance service user's full potential e.g. mobility, balance and coordination (gross motor functions). Please click here for more information Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour: how we think, how we act, react and interact individually and in groups. Psychology is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivations underlying such behaviour. All psychologists undertake studies in the following areas; biological basis of behaviour, developmental and lifespan psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, organizational psychology, personality and individual differences, and research design. Please click here for more information Visiting Psychiatrist operates a clinic at our main campus on Baker's Road, Charleville. The Social Worker aims to provide ongoing support and counselling as required for service users and their families. Social Workers act as advocates for service users and families and seek to inform them of their entitlements. Referrals for Early Intervention, Day Services, Home Support, Respite and Residential care are directed to the Social Worker. The Social Worker serves as a contact point between the Foundation and families. Please click here for Contact Listing Community Nurse-Early Intervention. The Community Nurse in early Early Intervention offers support, advice and practical help to families of children with special needs within the home e.g. medical issues, implementation of home programmes, Lámh training, toilet training etc.   The Community Nurse liaises between community pre-schools and parents and supports families alongside the Multi-disciplinary Team in the transition from pre-school to mainstream national schools.   The Community Nurse also attends 1st mainstream National School IEP with parents and relevant MDT members and consultancy service thereafter. Community Nurse - Adult Services. The Community Clinical Nurse Specialist working within adult services provides a comprehensive service to people with special needs over 18 years of age and their families. The Community Nurse visits services users in their homes where she provides medical advice and intervention; carries out programmes and makes referrals to other professionals within her own multi-disciplinary team or outside agencies. The Community Nurse also runs a weekly clinic with a visiting consultant Psychiatrist and provides Lámh training to both staff and families. Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Pastoral Care services are offered by a lay chaplain to service users, families and staff. It aims to support children and adults by acknowledging the whole person and helping to meet the spiritual needs of the individual along with physical and emotional needs. The service is available to all regardless of their religious beliefs. The Music Therapist is a trained and qualified specialist who understands the ways in which music has beneficial effects and is specialised in the use of techniques to achieve certain goals. Music therapy is the clinical use of music in the accomplishment of therapeutic aims with service users of any age (early intervention to elder care). Music therapy may address emotional, cognitive, social and sensory needs.  Seeking to create or develop an alternative means of interaction is one of the primary functions of music therapy. The effect of providing a new means for a person to make contact and be understood has a profound value in satisfying emotional needs and in building relationships. Please click here for more information Return to the top of the page