The Adult Clinical Services Team at St. Michael’s House recently held a Shared Learning Day, an event described by attendees as “enriching, informative and thought-provoking.”
The day opened with a warm welcome from CEO Liz Reynolds and Director of Access, Integration & Adult Clinical Services Tara Molloy, who set a positive and encouraging tone for the sessions ahead.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Christine Linehan, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Disability Studies (CDS), University College Dublin. Dr. Linehan provided a compelling overview of the Centre’s research, teaching and community engagement activities, highlighting the significant impact of its work on both a local and global scale.
Presentations and Themes
The theme of the day, “Innovation and Possibility,” was explored through a range of presentations highlighting creative and needs-led interventions and research taking place across St. Michael’s House.
Topics included:
- Trauma-Informed Care | Casework & Training
- Working Well with Families | Training Pilot
- Peer-led Health Promotion | Buddy Health Project
- ICT Approaches to Managing & Planning Clinical Work
- Transition from School to Adult Life
- Bridging Support Social Care Work Role
- Workability Employment Service
- Inclusive Research | Shopping Centre Communication Project
- Social Opportunities for Building Friendships
Reflections from Attendees
Feedback captured the positive impact of the day:
- “Great variety, loved hearing from different clinical teams and the work being done.”
- “Found the presentations which service users contributed to really interesting.”
- “A theme of supporting families was very evident.”
- “Really interesting range and I felt a lot of it was very applicable across the disciplines.”
- “I found the talks thought-provoking. The need for service coordination seems to be a key element to drawing these different strands together.”
Attendees emphasised the importance of dedicated time away from daily casework to meet colleagues, share learning, and reflect on innovative approaches. Future suggestions included sessions on the implementation of the ADM Act in practice and greater involvement of people who use services and their families/supporters.
Supporting Our Strategic Goals
This Shared Learning Day strongly reflects St. Michael’s House Strategic Goals.
Goal 3: Valuing and Investing in Our Staff
- Creating space for clinical and support teams to engage in shared learning and professional reflection.
- Providing opportunities to learn about innovative, person-centred practices across disciplines.
- Strengthening professional knowledge, confidence and collaboration.
Goal 4: Learning from and Influencing the Sector, Government and Society
- Showcasing creative, needs-led interventions that align with sector priorities.
- Engaging with academic and sector leaders, including UCD’s Centre for Disability Studies.
- Promoting collaboration, research and innovation that extends beyond St. Michael’s House.
Click here to view photos of the day.
Acknowledgements
A sincere thank you to Eilín de Paor, Clinical Manager, who organised and coordinated the day and to St. Michael’s House Training Department and the Open Training College for their support.
Thank you also to all presenters and attendees for their commitment, creativity and engagement.
A final word of appreciation to the conference team at Marino for their excellent hospitality and welcoming environment, which contributed to a memorable and inspiring event.