Community Worker

MS Ireland has a team of regional community workers who provide information and support to the local MS community. Based in our regional offices throughout the country, regional community workers are trained professionals with various social work, community development and nursing backgrounds.

 

In order to fulfil that role, community workers work to:

“provide opportunities for people with multiple sclerosis to explore their experience (especially around the time of diagnosis), to make choices in relation to aspects of their lives, to encourage independence, to discover options, and participate in the realisation of their choices”.

What we do

  • Provide information, advice and support particularly to those newly diagnosed with MS
  • Make referrals
  • Act as an advocate
  • Link to the society and its services
  • Link people with MS and carers together
  • Develop services for people with MS
  • Work with and support branches
  • Link with other statutory and voluntary organisations
  • Provide information/ education/ awareness of MS and the Society
  • Casework

Who we work with

  • People with MS
  • Family and friends of people with MS
  • Branches of the society
  • Other work colleagues in the MS Society i.e. MS contact, counsellors, MS Care Centre
  • Health professionals i.e. Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) and hospital staff
  • Statutory and voluntary organisations

What is available through a regional office?

  • Information about various aspects of MS
  • Advice on services available to people with MS and families/friends within the Society and elsewhere
  • Support for people with MS and their family, especially around the time of diagnosis
  • Contacts, if someone wishes to meet other people who have MS
  • Information about support and groups in the region, forthcoming events and activities
  • Referrals to Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs), i.e. occupational therapy, physiotherapy, public health nurse, home help, etc
  • Contacts for other organisations i.e. entitlements, employment, training
  • Information and referral to counselling
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