St Catherine’s Services
Mission Statement
The Association will deliver a service of excellence that is client centered, responding to their identified needs ensuring that each achieves their full potential and is supportive of both client and their families.
Staff employed in the delivery of St. Catherine’s Services will participate in a multidisciplinary team approach to the highest attainable standards of Healthcare, Safety Education and Training of persons with Learning Disabilities/Development Delays, many of whom will have associated other disabilities.
Each person who is a client of prospective client of the Services will be treated with the utmost respect. Staff will recognise that each client has sacred and inviolable rights and needs, and that these rights and needs will be given priority in accordance with the policies of: St. Catherine’s Association Limited.
Welcome
St. Catherine’s Association
Arrival: / 9.00am – 3.00 pmEDC Educational & Development Centre9.00am – 3.00 pmSNS SpecialNationalSchool
Times may vary in all other locations
Attendance book / You are required to sign the attendance book on arrival and departure each day.
Absence/Late Arrival: / For those with placement in EDC/SNS/Barnacoyle
Please notify Anne Marie 087-1218763 A.S.A.P.
For placement in Woodmount House, Arklow.
Please notify Ann Doyle 087-6803811 A.S.AP.
In other locations please notify Staff on duty.
Accidents/Nurse On Duty / Call nurse:Ext: 333 EDC
Ext: 121 SNS
Emergency Buzzer Haughton House
In other location please alert a Staff Member
Breaks / EDC/SNSand Pre-school Classes in all locations
/ Please keep to this time
Lunch break is ½ hour
Please remember to tidy up after yourself
You may bring in a packed lunch (tea/coffee, milk, sugar, microwave, toaster, sandwich maker supplied) or you can purchase lunch in the Hospital canteen.
In other locations
You will need to bring a packed lunch and break times may differ.
Please remember to tidy up after yourself .
Bus Lines: / Buses are directed by a nominated staff member.
Each bus is unloaded/loaded in rotation.
Staff are responsible for bringing student’s to and from the buses.
Confidentiality: / The maintenance of the dignity of our clients and their families requires us to display absolute confidentiality in all matters related to St. Catherine’s Association Limited.
Contact Details: / Please ensure that you have included your contact details on your application form.
Remember to give anyone who needs to contact you the main line number of the building you are placed in
Challenging Behaviour: / Please read the attached Basic Guide
Car Parking: / EDC: Parking at main building by permit holder’s only
General parking in hospital grounds for both buildings
SNS:A parking plan will be e-mailed to you
In the event that you are going to be dropped off and collected from the EDC /SNS please remember that space is limited and therefore becomes extremely congested at coming in and going home times.
In other locations confirm arrangements with Staff on duty
Doors: / Make sure all outside doors are securely fastened when entering or exiting building.
Make sure that all internal doors are securely fastened when entering or exiting areas.
Dress Code: / Please read the attached Dress Code
Fire Drills/Fire Alarm: / Fire Orders displayed in all areas, you will need to be familiar with evacuation procedures and discuss same with the Team you are assigned to.
Gloves: / Please read the attached guide to cleaning
hands. Disposable gloves to be used for hygienic reasons.
Glasses: / If you own 2 pairs of glasses you are advised to wear your least expensive pair
Hair: / It is advisable to tie long hair back
Health & Safety:
Health & Safety Statement: / It is your responsibility to take reasonable care for your own Safety Health and Welfare, and that of all the persons you come in contact with in the course of your placement.
On display in all locations, and on the common on server
Horse Riding: / Some students attend horse riding on Tuesday and you may be required to assist.
Incident Form: / Must be filled out A.S.A.P. after event and forwarded to Class/Team Leader/Supervisor
Injuries: / Whether child or staff, call nurse immediately EDC/SNS/HH
In other areas please alert a Staff member
Jewellery: / Please read the attached Dress Code
Kitchen: / EDC - Door is kept closed when cook is inside and lockedwhen she leaves it
SNS - For safety reasons children are not allowed in – ½ door is always locked
In other locations please check arrangements with Staff on duty.
Laundry: / Rota in laundry room
Medication: / Given by Nurse or delegated staff member.
Mission Statement: / Please read attached Mission Statement
Mobile Phones: / Should be switched off, you may check your messages during your breaks
Outings: / You may be required to go on outings
Peer Supporters: / Information on Notice Boards/Back of toilet doors
There are Peer Supportersavailable if needed
P/E / Students attend P/E classes, several times during the week and you are required to wear white soled runners/shoes
Policies: / Available from Liz McDonald, Training Co-ordinator, EDCBuilding (087 2825459)
Photos: / You are not permitted to take photograph/video students
Queries/questions: / You are encouraged to ask questions
References: / Only available from the C.E.O.
Reports: / All your assessments/time sheets will be filled in by Class/Team Leader/Supervisor
Swimming: / Students attend classes in our own Therapy pool in E.D.C.
Pool doors must be locked when not in use
Shoe covers must be worn in pool area these are provided
You may be asked to get into the water to assist, please remember to bring swimming gear. If for any reason you are unable to go swimming please inform Class/Team Leader/Supervisor
Smoking: / Please read the attached public health (tobacco act)
Safety Issues: / Please notify your Class/Team Leader/Supervisor e.g. if you notice anything amiss like cracked mirror or window etc… or potential danger
Shoes: / Please read the attached Dress Code
Snow Days: / Severe snowstorms may cause the school to close, in that event you will be notified.
Volunteers / While volunteering you are required to abide by the guidelines and procedures of St. Catherines Association Ltd
Website : /
Work Experience: / While on work experience you are required to abide by the guidelines and procedures of St. Catherines Association Ltd
Basic Guide For Visitors/Students
What is Challenging Behaviour
•Behaviour of such intensity, frequency or duration that the physical safety of the person or others is likely to be placed in jeopardy, or behaviour which is likely to deny access to the use of ordinary community facilities’ (Emerson et al, 1998)
•Includes aggression, destructive behaviour, self-injurious behaviour, socially inappropriate behaviour
Legal Considerations
•Employers are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of employees, service users , volunteers and visitors
•It is a criminal offence to use physical force or to threaten use of physical force unless the circumstances give rise to a justification for use of force
St. Catherine’s Challenging Behaviour Policy
•For people who display Challenging Behaviour, a behaviour support plan and/or an Individual Crisis Management Plan (ICMP) should be an integral part of the plan
•Each person attending/residing in St. Catherine’s service has a Child Centred Plan
•As a volunteer you will be made aware of plans that are in place for Children that you will be dealing with directly
Factors that may elicit challenging behaviour
•Individual factors – hunger/thirst, pain, difficulties expressing needs/desires, comprehension difficulties, memory difficulties
•Environmental Factors – noise, lighting, crowds, changes in routine etc…
•Staff Behaviours – tone of voice, body language, unreasonable requests, touching children who have difficulty with closeness, rushing a child, entering personal space
Preventing Challenging Behaviour
•Be aware of the child’s preferred interaction style – do not raise your voice or shout
•Do not enter the child’s personal space or crowd them
•Do not give orders or rush the child
•Be aware of the signs that a child may be getting agitated – shouting, pacing etc…
Responding to Challenging Behaviour
•Stay calm
•Ask for help if you need it
Physical Interventions
•A Restrictive Physical intervention can be used in the following situations if necessary:
-To break away or disengage from dangerous or harmful physical contact initiated by the child
-To separate person from a ‘trigger’
-To protect child from a dangerous situation e.g. the hazards of a busy road
Guidelines For Volunteers / Work Placement
•If it is a minor incident, ignore as much as possible but let Staff member responsible for child know what happened
•Ask for help if you need it
•If you come across an incident where another staff member is being physically hurt, ask them if they need help
•Certain behaviours may be being ignored for a specific reason, don’t feel the need to intervene if Staff member responsible for the child is present
•If crisis occurs, it is important to get through the crisis safely – follow instructions from Staff member responsible for child e.g. everyone asked to leave a room.
Incident Recording Sheets
•Report the incident to your Team
•After the incident, fill out an incident report form (This is available from the Staff you are assigned to)
•In line with St. Catherine’s Health and Safety Statement, all accidents/incidents/near misses must be reported immediately to the Staff you are assigned to. These include incidents of challenging behaviour
•Incident recording sheets must be completed and returned to the Team Leader
St Catherine’s Association Ltd Staff Dress Code/Policy
Purpose
To set out the principles which should govern the dress code for staff employed by St Catherine’s Association, and thereby maintain a high level of public confidence in the organisation as a service provider and employer with certain responsibilities to deliver education and health care.
Standards
While various professionals and non-professional performance standards will dictate a level of quality in the delivery of personal services, there is a general ethical standard expected in all agencies delivering public services. Such a standard demands both personal integrity, and loyalty to the employer, to the client/pupils and to families.
The Company is totally committed to the concept of integrity in all its dealings. It follows, therefore, that it is essential that staff conduct themselves and are seen to conduct all activities to the highest standard possible.
Staff who are in contact with the public play a most significant part in determining the public’s attitude towards the company, both by the manner in which they provide services to the public and in the way in which they conduct themselves generally.
Good conduct has many facets and is not only evidenced by staff interacting with clients/pupils, parents and the general public. Non-verbal issues are also important, especially those related to individual staff member’s appearance, dress and general behaviour, either within the workplace or externally when undertaking the business of St Catherine’s
The wearing of any item of jewellery, which may cause a physical risk of injury to the staff member, clients or staff colleagues, or pose the risk of reduced hygiene standards, contamination, and cross infection, will not be allowed while on duty. The wearing of earrings other than a simple stud is specifically prohibited. The wearing of any other type of ring/studs in exposed pierced areas of the body is prohibited.
All staff, especially during their time on duty, must observe certain standards of dress and appearance. Smart casual dress/appearance is acceptable but any clothing, which is unclean, untidy, or obviously not suited to the duties, and work location is unacceptable.
Unsuitable clothing includes footwear which have open toes, sling back/no back and high heels/platforms/soles (Health & Safety risk) Inappropriate clothing includes clothing which exposes mid-drift, or excessive flesh, which could be deemed to be embarrassing/offensive/and unprofessional to others.
January 2008.
St. Catherines Association Limited
Health & Safety Officer
St. Catherine’s E.D.C.
Newcastle
Co. Wicklow
Telephone: (01) 2819485 Ext: 237Mobile: 087-9098808 Fax: (01) 2811398
e-mail: bsite:
STAFF AT ALL LOCATIONS
ST. CATHERINES ASSOCIATION LTD
RE: PUBLIC HEALTH (Tobacco) ACTS 2002 and 2004
Dear staff.
All St. Catherine’s Association Premises and Vehicles are smoke free areas.
Please find below the arrangements regarding smoking at all locations.
The designated smoking areas are the only ones that should be used.
(USED ONLY WHEN CHILDREN ARE NOT PRESENT).
We must all respect the rights of staff & children to be in a smoke free environment. Please be reminded that children may pick up cigarette ends so we must be careful that we dispose of them in the bins provided.
I would also ask that these bins are emptied on a DAILY basis and that the contents be disposed of in a safe manner (IT IS NOT THE DUTIES OF THE DOMESTIC STAFF TO EMPTY THEM THIS MUST BE DONE BY THE SMOKERS).
ST. CATHERINE’S EDC.
- At the front of the EDC -- FLAG POLE AREA
- At the back of the EDC – STAFF ROOM AREA
ST CATHERINE’S SNS (KILMULLEN LANE)
- At the front of SNS -- SKIP AREA
- Staff room -- AT THE VERANDA OF WOODEN SHED (PE STOREAGE)
BARNACOYLE HOUSE
1. At the rear of house -- OUTSIDE STAFF ROOM / DINING ROOM DOOR
FOURWINDS
- At the rear of house
BALLYLUSK COTTAGE
1. Patio area of apartment
HAUGHTON HOUSE, HAUGHTON LODGE AND BRAMBLES
1. At the Wooden Pagoda seat between Haughton House & Haughton Lodge
Yours Sincerely
Health & Safety Officer