Project SEARCH is a unique programme established through the partnership of KARE and Naas General Hospital and is the first of its kind in Ireland. The project offers on-site training and support for young people with intellectual disabilities to enable them to gain real employment skills. This innovative and successful internship offers an opportunity to learn in the workplace over a year.
The Jigginstown centre became involved with this exciting programme in October 2016. The role of the centre was to provide educational support to the interns and to assist them to work towards appropriate and relevant certification.
The project began with two tutors funded under BTEI and as needs were identified they were quickly joined by two voluntary literacy tutors. As a result of all their hard work and fantastic commitment, QQI Level 2 Reading and Writing Skills portfolios were presented for certification for seven of the interns and eight of the interns will receive certificates for Computer Skills Level 2.
Due to the success of the project in Naas it will be rolled out in twelve centres in Ireland starting in Tallaght Hospital in September 2017. It has been a tremendous experience for the people in the centre and a lot has been learned in the process. Everybody is looking forward to working with the new group of interns in September 2017.
Project
SEARCH
Front row: Kim O'Kelly, Eithne Connnolly,(Tutor) Aisling Coyle, Teresa Reilly Back row: Fionan Malone, Ricky O'Neill, Peter Nolan, Ciaran Brennan, Dillon Harmon Dunne and Helen Brickell(Tutor)