St. Michael’s House
Bereavement Training Programme for Clinicians
May 2007
St. Michael’s House & the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies
are hosting this programme as a joint initiative.
Background:
Loss and bereavement are complex life experiences for everyone. This is equally true for
people with an intellectual disability. In order to acknowledge and address the bereavement
needs of people with intellectual disabilities, their families and carers, clinicians from St.
Michael's House have developed a comprehensive bereavement training programme. This
programme is designed to meet the bereavement education and practical support
requirements of people with intellectual disability, their families and carers in the event of the
loss of a loved one.
The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies and St. Michael’s House are jointly organising a
bereavement training programme for Clinicians working in the intellectual disability sector.
The overall aim of the bereavement training programme is as follows:
(1)
To educate and train clinicians as bereavement trainers to a prescribed standard of
knowledge and practice necessary to facilitate the provision of a comprehensive
bereavement service (to people with intellectual disabilities, their families and support
staff).
(2)
To present the contents of the bereavement training programme materials developed
by St. Michael’s House for clinicians.
(3)
To provide an overview of current research and literature.
(4)
To examine attachment theory and the grief process.
(5)
To identify bereavement issues specific to people with intellectual disabilities.
(6)
To provide comprehensive training to clinicians in the provision of:
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(a)
Live & Let Die 1: A 4-day bereavement training programme for clinicians. This
programme trains clinicians as bereavement trainers in the field of intellectual
disability. This programme incorporates components (b), (c) and (d).
(b)
Live & Let Die 2: Educational programme on loss and bereavement for people with
intellectual disabilities.
(c)
Live & Let Die 3: A booklet for families and carers to support people with an
intellectual disability through the loss of a loved one.
(d)
Live & Let Die 4: A 2-day bereavement training programme to provide frontline /
direct care staff with the knowledge, skills and coping strategies required to prepare
and support a person with an intellectual disability through the loss of a loved one.
On completion of the training programme each participant will receive the
complete ‘ Live and Let Die’ series of materials.
Trainers:
The primary trainers for the ‘Bereavement Training Programme for Clinicians’ are Ms. Síle
Reynolds, Senior Occupational Therapist, St. Michael’s House and Ms. Lucy Walsh, Senior
Clinical Psychologist, St. Michael’s House. A brief biographical note on the trainers is included
in Appendix 1. There will also be two specialist guest speakers – Ms. Nazrin O’Kelly, Senior
Social Worker, St. Michael’s House and Dr. Stuart Todd, Welsh Centre for Learning
Disabilities, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.
Programme Participants:
Specifically Participants must:
(i)
Be clinicians working a minimum of 2 years in the field of intellectual disability.
(ii)
Have a brief / role that includes the provision of training and education to staff.
(iii)
Be from one of the following disciplines: Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Social
Work, Speech & Language Therapy, Psychiatry, Nursing, medics, counsellors and
therapists working in the field of intellectual disability.
Note: The Programme is not suitable for those who have had recent or significant losses / or
bereavement.

There will be a maximum of 30 places available for participants on this programme.
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
Ideally course participants will have an educational / therapeutic aspect to their role
within their organisation.
The trainers may opt to contact course participants in
advance to clarify the post course application of the training materials.

In allocating programme places priority will be given to participants from smaller
organisations.
Details:
Where? When?
The programme will be held in May 2007 and will run over 3 consecutive days. Participants
will be expected to attend all sessions:
Module - Dates
Wednesday, May 16th 2007
th
Time
Venue
9.30a.m. – 5.00p.m.
Radisson Hotel,
Northgate Street,
Athlone, Co. Westmeath
(see map attached for directions)
Thursday, May 17 2007
(Lunch will be
Friday, May 18th 2007
provided)
Programme Fee:
The total fee for the Programme is €400.
This programme has been subsidised by St. Michael’s House as part of its
commitment to the dissemination of best practice in relation to research and
training.
Please return the completed Booking Form and the Programme fee of €400, cheque made
payable to the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies, by Friday, April 27th 2007 to:
Jillian Sexton,
Human Resource Training & Development Co-ordinator,
National Federation of Voluntary Bodies,
Oranmore Business Park, Oranmore, Galway.
Further Information: If you have any queries in relation to:

Programme Content – please contact Ms. Síle Reynolds, St. Michael’s House
(01) 8840282 / sile.reynolds@smh.ie

Programme Bookings - please contact Jillian Sexton, National Federation of Voluntary
Bodies (091) 792316 / jillian.sexton@fedvol.ie
St. Michael’s House
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APPENDIX 1
Trainers - Biographical Note:
Biographical Note:
Síle Reynolds, Senior Occupational Therapist, has worked in the field of intellectual disability
for over 10 years. She has a Higher Diploma in Learning Disability Studies and a Masters
Degree in Developmental Disability Studies. Síle has presented her research in bereavement
and intellectual disability at conferences at National and International Level and has provided
training to clinicians working in this field at both National and International level.
Lucy Walsh is a Senior Clinical Psychologist in St. Michael’s House. She has been working in
the area of intellectual disability for over 20 years.
She has been involved in service
development, client staff, family support and training in all aspects of intellectual disability.
Training:
Síle and Lucy have developed a specialism in bereavement and intellectual disability. They
have developed educational and training materials for people with intellectual disability, staff,
families and clinicians. Síle and Lucy have provided training in bereavement and intellectual
disability over the past 10 years to the following groups:

Staff supporting people with intellectual disabilities.

Clinicians supporting people with intellectual disabilities.

Special Needs Teachers.

Professional bodies.

Conferences – National, International, World.

Colleges and Universities.
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Bereavement Training Programme for Clinicians
St. Michael’s House & National Federation of Voluntary Bodies
Booking Form - May 2007
To book a place on the ‘Bereavement Training Programme for Clinicians Programme’
please complete and return this Booking Form. Please note the following:




The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies will be seeking to ensure a mix of participants
on the pilot programme and therefore a maximum of 2 places will be allocated per
organisation.
In allocating programme places priority will be given to participants from smaller
organisations.
The Programme Fee should be made payable to the National Federation of Voluntary
Bodies and returned with the booking form to Ms. Jillian Sexton, National Federation of
Voluntary Bodies, Oranmore Business Park, Oranmore, Galway.
The closing date for booking places is Friday, April 27th 2007.
Booking Form1
Checklist:
Yes
No
Are you a clinician who has been working a minimum of 2 years in the field
of intellectual disability?
(b) Have you a brief / role that includes the provision of training and education
to staff?
(c) Are you employed in one of the following disciplines: Occupational
Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Speech & Language Therapy,
Psychiatry, Nursing, medics, counsellors and therapists working in the field
of intellectual disability?
Name:
(a)
Organisation:
Position:
Address:
Contact Details:
Telephone
Mobile
Email
Please outline your Main areas of responsibility:
Information provided in this booking form will be made available to the St. Michael’s House
Trainers who will be undertaking the training and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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5
Please outline your history / experience of working in the intellectual disability
sector:
Have you undertaken any Bereavement Training to date? Yes [ ]
No [ ]
If Yes, Please outline:
Please detail your role in providing bereavement training / education / awareness
raising to staff in your organisation:
Please outline what you would like to achieve through participating in this
programme?
Signed: (Participant)
Date:
Approved by: (Training Manager/
Human Resource Manager)
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Radisson Hotel,
Northgate Street, Athlone
County Westmeath
ATHLONE, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)90 644 2600
FAX: +353 (0)90 644 2655
Radisson SAS Hotel
Athlone
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