Family Supports @SWWFRC


SWWFRC transitioned into the Family Resource Programme in 2015 with the focus on direct support to Families in the local community. The Family Resource Centre continues to deliver services internally however a new aspect of direct interventions with families is being adopted.
Family support services during the Covid 19 Pandemic were advertised on the Centre’s webpage and within the local parish notes every week. Flyers were printed as a means to promote the service further and were dropped to local shops, Garda stations, schools, church’s, and Doctors surgeries within the local community and in other villages in the catchment area (Ballyhack, Duncannon, Fethard, Wellington Bridge, and Campile). The family support worker set up appointments to meet other agencies and services as a means to network and build relationships. Meetings have been held with Citizens advice, MABS, Community care team, Social Workers, Summerhill mental health organization, the health centre, Maryville Mental Health Service, the woman’s refuge, HSE Counsellors for traumatic deaths, Tusla Child and Family Agency and other Family Resource Centres such as Raheen and the Millennium centre in Tipperary This provided an increased awareness of service available to families within the local area and helped with building relationships with the family resource centre and other agencies.
Family support developed within its role and function as the year went on. Initially the family support service focused on internal supports to people who attended or engaged with the services within the centre. The role changed with a greater need for home based intervention being required. The family support worker has worked with 7 families throughout the year who were not attending the service and 6 people who are engaged in the service. The families needed assistance in the following areas; parenting skills, Confidence and personal development, home care management, Diet, nutrition and health care and budgeting and family finance.
Recording systems were developed throughout the year regarding formal and informal work. The main presenting issue was consent to formal work. People preferred to work within an informal agreement. The work was recorded and captured within Individual Work Reports, Monthly Board of Management Meetings and Speak. Overall there was great level of support given to the members of the local community through family support and services available in the centre