The Activation Programmes, located in Fl, F2, and F3 in the Main Stewarts Hospital building are designed to meet the individual needs of adults with severe and profound learning disabilities. The activation programmes are diverse to meet the ever-changing needs of these adults. Such activities as multisensory, snoozelen, aromatherapy, massage therapy, music therapy, sport and recreation, swimming, cookery and socialisation enable a varied and quality Day Service Programme to be delivered to our less able clients. Key workers are appointed within each group and take special responsibility to ensure the needs of their key clients are met and reviewed on a regular basis. Sessional input from aromatherapist, massage therapist and beauty therapists on a weekly basis also add variety to the Programme. Swimming and leisure activities enable clients who have poor mobility to experience freedom of movement and staff work with them with the support of the physiotherapists to improve circulation and help mobility. Socialisation in the community, i.e., visiting pubs, shops, local shopping centres, parks and cinemas play a major part in helping the clients to integrate into the life of the local community. The use of specially designed buses also enables clients to avail of outings in the wider community, enjoying horse riding and other facilities at Kilcloon. Parties, discos and celebrations are of major importance in the lives of all our clients and a party marks every occasion. Staff pride themselves on knowing their clients and their individual needs even if the clients communication skills are poor or little response is received after activities.

Woodlands Project

The Woodlands Programme is designed to meet the needs of clients with severe and profound learning disabilities who also have severe physical disabilities. These clients reside on campus at Stewarts Hospital in areas called Woodlands 26, 27 and 28. Clients are collected from their area of residence in a specially adapted bus and taken to Stewarts Sports Centre. Here staff work on a 1 : 1 basis with each client to provide a structured swimming, sensory and relaxation session in the water. Halliwick methods are used in conjunction with sensory music to create a relaxed atmosphere for clients, yet allowing staff to work on limb movement and carry out passive exercise. Motor skills are also developed with the use of tactile stimulatory toys, i.e., colourful equipment that uses sound and texture to encourage gross and fine motor movement and also encourage active engagement by clients in the programme. Clients also receive input from the aromatherapist and massage therapists twice weekly. They also avail of bus drives, social outings and motor activities and an arts and crafts programme appropriate to the needs and interests of the clients.

Individualisation Service

The Programme was developed to help clients to meet their individual aspirations and facilitate activities for individual clients that normal group activities are unable to provide. A Team Member coordinates this programme under the guidance of the Day Services Manager. Using Individual Programme Plans she liases closely with Senior Team Members and key workers to identify clients in need of special intervention. After consultation and agreement on clients to be worked with, she liases with their key worker, identifying their areas of need. The clients vary in ability and need and so this ensures a varied programme. The individual programme incorporates linking into the Sports & Recreation Programme for several clients, linking into the Massage & Aromatherapy Programme and Beauty Programme, providing one to one socialisation programmes for several clients, facilitating Educational Programmes and providing support to key workers enabling them to attain aims and objectives for their clients. The Programme and client progress is reviewed on a constant basis with aims and objectives monitored to ensure the Programme is meeting the needs of as many clients as possible. This Sport & Recreation plays a part in all Day Services areas and provides variety and choice in client's daily routine.

Sports & Recreation Service

Team Members trained in Sport & Recreation coordinate this Programme under the guidance of the Day Services Manager. The aim is to enable clients from all areas of Day Service to access and participate in as many types of sport and leisure activities as possible. Day Services are lucky that Stewarts have an excellent swimming pool and gym on campus and utilize it to its maximum for their sport and leisure Programme. The Staff in charge liase closely with key workers in all areas before designing an individualised Sport & Recreation Programme for clients. Stewarts Day Services participates in Special Olympics and national games in the following areas: athletics, swimming and motor activities and are extremely proud of the many athletes that participated and won medals at National Games levels. At present, active training is taking place for the next round of Special Olympics with athletes having several training sessions in Stewarts swimming pool and in the adaptive physical activity suite in the Sports Centre