SIPTU is seeking an agreement with the HSE on the implementation of a national Job Review scheme for workers in the Intellectual Disability (ID) Sector following a meeting with HSE personnel in April.
In the meeting, ID Care Sector Organiser, Sharon Cregan, outlined to the HSE that the CAID (Care Assistant Intellectual Disability) role had evolved significantly since it was last reviewed in 2003.
Since then, our members across all ID services have cooperated with an immense de-congregation of services from central settings to dispersed housing/community living in line with Government policies towards a more defined social care and assisted living model within ID services nationally.
The extraordinary benefits of such developments within the services have significantly enhanced the quality of life for residents and persons supported across the country.
Cregan outlined how ID service staff have been hugely instrumental in this progress, and we particularly emphasised how CAID staff played a pivotal part in the overall process of integrating persons supported into communities across the length and breadth of the country.
It was relayed to the HSE that CAIDs have, and continue to, work so diligently, with commitment and compassion, in the homes of the persons they support, ensuring that the people they care for can live enhanced, full and active lives within their own communities.
“The HSE acknowledged the trojan work of all ID staff and also acknowledged the evolution of the CAID role over the past two decades since the last national review,” Cregan said following the meeting.
She continued: “The HSE indicated that they are willing to engage with SIPTU on the job specification and medication management, and have also acknowledged the Union’s intention to pursue a Job Review for the CAID grade in this regard.
“A meeting of the ID Care Sector Committee is scheduled in May, and it is anticipated that further engagement will proceed with the HSE on the Job Specification, their draft plans for the national roll-out of medication management training within ID Services and a potential national Job Review.”
A further update will be available in due course.