Health Initiative
Within the services offered by Depaul Ireland, the majority of service users have significant health related issues, thus they often need support from primary health care, mental health and substance misuse services. Many of our service users have had difficulty accessing mainstream health services and some are medically non-compliant. In recognition of this in 2003, the Health Board provided funding for a general nurse post in Depaul Ireland. In January 2006 the role was changed to that of nurse manager. The health initiative has since expanded to include an additional nurse and mental health support worker.
Mission
The mission of the Health Initiative is to proactively support and advocate for the needs of people who experience homelessness with specific health needs and to liaise with relevant health agencies, other homeless services, multi-disciplinary homeless teams and outreach services. Service users are supported and encouraged to make positive, informed choices about their health.
PROJECT AIMS
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To promote the principles of harm reduction in relation to health care;
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To strive to meet the specific health needs of each service user. We respect that each service user is free to engage with the health initiative and has the right to opt out at any time. Though accessing medical services is often difficult for our service users, we aim to reach the point where service users will agree to access mainstream services, especially when faced by a potentially chronic health problem;
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To empower each member of staff to understand how health care provision is structured within primary care;
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To provide training, support and advice around specific health interventions for staff when required while always maintaining confidentiality;
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To improve the internal delivery of services and ensure that there is a healthy working and living environment for all within Depaul Ireland;
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To develop best practice guidelines which ensure that frameworks are in place to guide staff, volunteers and service users with regard to specific health related problems (M.R.S.A, norovirus infection and safe principals in infection control).
FACILITIES and SERVICES
The nurse manager and additional nurse provides clinics and one to one support to service users within the projects. They liaise closely with other health professionals and provide a case management service to those who are medically in most need.
The specialist mental health worker provides support to service users our Backlane hostel through assessment, support and onward referral.
