Community Based Family Support Service is based in 6 areas in Mayo: Ballina, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Westport, Ballyhaunis and Erris. The aim of the service is to work in partnership with families experiencing difficulties to develop an individualised plan to meet their specific needs. The Family Support Worker will meet regularly with families at least once a week for 1 to 2 hours for approximately 6 months. Meetings take place in the family home or at the Family Support Worker’s office. The worker uses a variety of assessments to identify the family’s strengths and areas of difficulty. The worker will support, encourage and teach the family the necessary skills to achieve their goals and link families with appropriate services, supports and activities within their community.
The service is for any family with a child or children under 18 years of age experiencing:
• Difficulties managing behaviour
• Communication and relationship difficulties
• Crisis that impact on children examples might include bereavement, illness, redundancy, mental health, separation, financial problems etc
Families can self-refer into the family support service. Referrals are also welcome from medical professionals, community organisations, agencies and schools with the consent of parent(s)/guardian(s). Once the referral has been received it will be brought to the fortnightly Service Allocation Meeting (also known as a RED meeting) where it will be matched with
the appropriate service. Referral forms and information are available from the Family Support Worker based in Erris or you may also contact the Family Support Manager, Tusla Office, Mill Lane, Bridge Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo on 094 90 42510.
Some families may not require full family support but may benefit from a number of shorter appointments to discuss a particular issue. The Family Support Worker is happy to see any family by appointment.
The Community Based Family Support Service also offers the Common Sense Parenting programme for groups of parents of children aged 6 to 16 years. The course which runs for 2 hours weekly for 6 weeks is a skills-based programme designed to support parents in developing practical and effective ways to enhance their parenting and strengthen their children’s potential and quality of life.
This is a free & highly confidential service.
