Resident’s Guide

A warm welcome awaits you at Montbretia House as you begin your respite stay with us in Ballywiheen, Ballyferriter — the heart of Corca Dhuibhne, in the scenic surrounds of West Kerry. Whether you stay with us as a guest for a week or as a resident for a longer period, you can be assured of our support, care and attention to your needs.

Our mission

To empower and enable people with disabilities to achieve independent and assisted living, in equal participation and inclusion in mainstream society.

During your stay with us, we will ensure that we are true to our word.

Welcome from the Person in Charge

The idea of a respite break is to get away from the “day in, day out” routine, to have some time to yourself and do the things you most enjoy.

While you are here with us, you will lead the service as far as is practicable, and direct us as to what your ideal respite stay involves. We will do all we can to fulfil your dreams and goals for your stay.

At Montbretia House, we believe that your abilities are what truly matter. Here, your disability will never be a barrier to your enjoyment or participation. Our focus is on recognising and supporting what you can achieve, guided only by the limits of your imagination.

We invite you to embark on this journey with us, viewing your respite stay as a new and exciting experience. Together, we will ensure that your time with us is shaped by your own aspirations and preferences, making it both fulfilling and memorable.

David Pigott
Director and Person in Charge

What we aim to provide

Our aim is to give you a break away where you can have a “retreat” type experience, while being supported and valued as an individual in a caring environment that promotes health and wellbeing. We want to:

• provide you with a comfortable, enjoyable respite experience;
• provide a high standard of support and advocacy, underpinned by the philosophy of assisted and independent living;
• support your emotional, spiritual and social growth, to improve your quality of life;
• provide a “home away from home”, where your own lifestyle is replicated as much as possible, with access to a varied social calendar;
• provide a living environment that enables and empowers you to remain independent, with dignity, respect and safety;
• enable you to take part in recreational activities of your choice, to promote a fulfilling stay.

Accommodation

We have 6 bedrooms for you to choose from, named after local trees found in West Kerry:

• The Hazel Room — with en-suite
• The Elm Room — with en-suite
• The Ash Room — with en-suite
• The Beech Room — with en-suite
• The Oak Room — with en-suite
• The Willow Room — with en-suite, and complete with a kitchen and private living room

When you return for your next visit, you can choose the same room if it is unoccupied.

Shared spaces

• Dining room — meet your friends and family here. You can also use this room for relaxation, prayer, or time away from the group to read, listen to music or meditate.
• Food pantry and communal kitchen — enjoy your meals or do some cooking. You can choose a pantry cupboard and a shelf in the pantry fridge for any extra goodies you would like during your stay; just ask the team lead on duty for access.
• Communal lounge — comfortable, with a smart TV offering many channels, Netflix, YouTube and internet browsing, so you can watch your favourite shows or relax with a film.
• Laundry room — fully equipped, with a washing machine and tumble dryer.
• The Person in Charge’s office, at the rear of the property, where you can discuss any service-related or personal matters.

Our staff may use the dining and kitchen area during breaks and for shift handovers. All communal rooms are accessible to you, but we ask that you respect staff breaks.

Before your first overnight stay, you will be invited to an introductory meet and greet, usually arranged when other guests are out, to respect their privacy. You will be given a guided tour so you know where everything is and how to use the amenities available to you. You can also review the centre’s floor plan as part of your orientation.

Care and support

A social care worker or care assistant is available throughout your respite visit to support you with all activities of daily living, both day and night. Because you lead the service, you are in control of the support you receive.

There is a mix of social care workers and care assistants on duty, with one acting as team lead: a mix on duty during the day, and two at night (one awake for 12 hours, and one on sleep-over or on-call duty).

Staff can support you with any of the activities of daily living that you need, including:

• getting up in the morning, dressing, undressing, washing, bathing and toileting where necessary;
• mobility difficulties and other physical disabilities, and maintaining your aids and personal equipment;
• making and changing beds, tidying rooms, light cleaning, laundry, and toileting needs including incontinence wear;
• setting tables and trays, preparing light meals, serving meals, and support with feeding if you need it;
• promoting mental and physical activity — conversation, listening, accompanying you out socially, and sharing activities such as reading, writing, walking and swimming, while respecting your choices;
• night-time breathing equipment such as CPAP, as needed;
• managing your finances if required, documenting and receipting transactions as you direct, and acting as your advocate or translator with the public when needed;
• empowering you to self-medicate during your stay;
• accompanying or transporting you to appointments and social events;
• identifying your goals for your stay, and planning the steps to support your social and personal needs, dreams and future goals.

Before any trip or activity, we carry out a thorough risk assessment — checking for risks such as falls, choking and fire — so that proper measures are in place ahead of time.

If you wish to speak with a spiritual leader, or to visit a solicitor during your stay, we can arrange this for you.

Medical needs

Appointments

Staff will facilitate all doctor, dentist and optician appointments that fall within your respite period. Medical card holders should bring their card details with them. Private consultant fees are paid by you directly on the day of the visit. The Person in Charge may make referrals to healthcare professionals on your behalf for follow-up support where required.

If you become unwell

Should you become ill during your stay, your GP will be contacted with your consent for a medical assessment. If your doctor advises in-person attention at Dingle Medical Centre, our staff will arrange transport and coordinate the collection and dispensing of any prescribed medication. Outside those hours, you may be brought to SouthDoc after 5pm.

If your health declines or you become acutely ill, you will be brought to the casualty department at University Hospital Kerry by ambulance. Your next of kin will be contacted, and you will be discharged from Montbretia House. We do not employ a resident doctor.

A casualty visit for people without a medical card costs €100, invoiced to you by the hospital by post. If you have been referred by your GP or SouthDoc, there is no charge.

Medication

Medication must arrive in a blister pack, or in a clearly labelled personal container with clear dosing instructions. We keep a medication administration and recording booklet, which records all medication administered or refused. Your medication is stored in a fixed medication cabinet, installed discreetly inside your wardrobe or similar depending on your needs, for which the team lead holds the key or code. The Person in Charge will discuss your medication with you before every stay.

Meals

• Staff provide breakfast, dinner and evening meals, with the option for you to help if you wish.
• Special diets and religious requirements are accommodated, with menu orders placed a day in advance.
• You may order a takeaway, or buy, prepare and cook your own meals, at your own expense.

Getting around

Montbretia House does not have a dedicated transport vehicle. Where transport is arranged with local providers, the cost is met by you, and this is discussed and agreed in advance so that you can make an informed choice.

The Local Link bus and accessible taxi services are available. Tralee has a train station, and CIE and Local Link accessible buses leave Dingle three to four times daily to travel around the peninsula. Timetables and local charges are posted on the house notice board.

The garden

Montbretia House has a wheelchair-accessible sensory garden with peaceful pathways and quiet areas, where you can relax, reflect, read a book or watch the local wildlife. The garden has bird feeders, a pond with goldfish and golden orfe, and raised planters used for daily activities such as planting and growing flowers and shrubs.

Technology and keeping in touch

The lounge has a smart TV and a CD player. You are welcome to bring your own CDs, tapes or handheld devices, which are added to your inventory on admission. Guest Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

You also have access to IT devices such as an iPad, with accessible features for visually impaired users, set up for Skype or Zoom calls with family and friends. An adapted mobile phone is available for texting and WhatsApp video calls.

Activities

Sport and leisure

We have a games console and a variety of board games, including cards and chess. Outdoor activities on site include boccia, skittles and balloon keep-up games.

We will link in on your behalf with Enable Ireland, the MTU Sports Inclusion Disability Programme and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Guests are encouraged to join sports clubs to explore their interests and develop their talents, in both team and individual sports, at no extra cost.

Munster Technological University’s North Campus in Tralee has a 12m × 6m hydrotherapy pool, heated to 32–33.5°C. The pool is entered by shallow steps, with a pool chair hoist and ceiling hoist on site, making it accessible to everybody regardless of physical and functional mobility. Leisure centre facilities are available with the use of your poolside hoist. Sessions are €10 each, pay as you go, or €43 for a Hydro Flexi Pass of 5 × 45-minute sessions, paid by card.

Social and community life

We aim to support you to be an active member of the local community: trips to the local library, local book clubs, swimming clubs, gyms and nature programmes, along with links to other organisations for information sharing, coffee mornings and advocacy. Shopping trips to Tralee and Killarney are enjoyed by many, and you will need your own spending money.

• Boat trips: Dingle Marina has wheelchair-accessible trips — a short scenic cruise around the harbour and bay with commentary on local history and landmarks. Approximately €15 per adult, paid directly to the boat’s captain on the day.
• Blasket Island eco tour (3 hours): €45–€60 per adult, including wildlife viewing and the history of the Blasket Islands, paid directly to the captain on the day.
• Deep-sea fishing trip (2 hours): €35–€45 per adult, around Dingle Bay, paid directly to the captain on the day.
• Telly Bingo and GAA Bingo: tickets can be bought in a local shop at €2.50 per bingo sheet.

Education and employment

We will link in on your behalf with the Adult Education Department at Munster Technological University in Tralee, and can support longer-stay residents with any coursework you wish to work on during your stay.

We can also link with Employability Services in Dingle and Tralee for the Kerry region, and arrange a meeting with an employment officer if you wish and if your stay is extended.

Religious activities

We respect and value each person’s religious preferences, and can support you to take part in religious events and activities of your choosing. A list of local religious services is posted on our notice board, for attendance in person or online.

Additional services and charges

Charges apply to any additional service you choose during your stay that is not included in the respite package.

• Hairdressing: staff can help with washing, drying and styling your hair. A professional hairdresser or barber is available at local rates and can visit the centre on request, subject to availability. Your social care worker or care assistant will help schedule appointments and arrange transport to your preferred salon or barber. Charges depend on the service, style and colour you choose.
• Beauty and grooming: available in-house from our staff at your preferred location within the centre, including basic nail painting and make-up. We can also arrange external appointments for professional treatments such as facials, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, waxing, nail extensions and Turkish shaves. Professional treatments are at your own expense.
• Massage therapy: can be arranged with local providers. Pricing is planned with you early in the week, and paid directly to the therapist on the day.
• Chiropody: on-site chiropody is available when there is enough demand, so appointments can be scheduled if enough people book in advance. If your stay coincides with a local chiropody clinic appointment, you are welcome to attend accompanied by a family member. Paid directly to the practitioner at the time of your appointment.

Private online bookings, deposits and payment

• Bookings made through our online system require either a deposit or full payment at the time of booking.
• A deposit, as specified at the time of booking, secures the reservation and confirms the dates. Alternatively, you may pay in full at the time of booking, which confirms the reservation.
• Where a deposit is paid, the balance must be paid in full no later than 14 days before the admission date, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
• All payments are processed securely through our online payment system.
• If payment is not received within the specified timeframe, the booking may be cancelled.

All payments are subject to the centre’s cancellation and refund policy, which is included in your pack.

How to access the service

You can come to us by self-referral, by referral from a family member, or from any member of a multi-disciplinary team.

1. A self-referral form is completed and, where applicable, goes to the HSE Respite Support Forum for approval. The HSE has the right to refuse an application, and you have the right to appeal that decision.
2. Once approved, the Person in Charge or deputy will invite you for an assessment of needs and suitability for admission.
3. Before arrival, the Person in Charge or social care team lead will arrange a visit to the centre to assess suitability for respite, with GDPR consent obtained.
4. You will be asked about your general health and wellbeing, medical and surgical history, medication management, the support services you receive at home, and equipment you need for daily living.
5. Some assessments involve liaising with other healthcare professionals or with family members, with your consent. The assessment identifies whether and how our team can best meet your needs, goals and dreams.
6. If risks are identified, the Person in Charge may request a review by a more qualified professional — for example a speech and language therapy referral where there is a risk of difficulty swallowing, or occupational therapy where there is a risk of falls.
7. Once that professional opinion is received, our management team can offer you a booking date.

Your details are then added to our directory, and you will be offered several dates to choose from.

Please note: applicants must apply before their 64th birthday. Referrals after this age cannot be accepted.

Your pack

A pack is then sent to you by post or email, containing:

• the contract for the provision of service;
• the cancellation and refund policy that all payments are subject to;
• a pre-assessment person-centred plan, for you or a family member to complete;
• a medication kardex, to bring to your GP for completion;
• consent forms;
• an infection prevention and control questionnaire, to complete before arrival;
• a sample checklist of suggested items to bring.

Person-centred planning

As part of the pre-arrival assessment, the Person in Charge or social care team lead will meet you to confirm that your medical, physical and emotional needs are as described. Where required, reports from healthcare professionals will be available by the time your respite date is confirmed.

On the day you arrive, you will review and update your individualised person-centred plan, which guides staff in supporting the respite experience you want. A staff member on duty will help you work through it, discussing any updates or changes needed, and the details are added to your baseline assessment.

This means you manage your own timetable, including activities, routines and personal care, so that your stay is tailored to your needs and wishes.

At the start of each week, a guest and residents’ group meeting is facilitated by a social care assistant, to identify group activities of shared interest. An activity plan is then created covering individual and group choices — daily activities, meal preferences, day trips, social outings and sporting events. Each person receives a copy of their agreed weekly plan.

Your person-centred plan is reviewed with you at each respite visit, so you can discuss your experiences and keep the plan up to date. You are welcome to update or change any part of it at any time.

Dignity, respect and freedom to choose

We aim to uphold the highest standards of choice for you in all aspects of your life during your stay. Through your person-centred plan, you exercise your right to manage your own timetable — your meals, your activities, your personal care, your sleep and waking times, and your social and leisure activities.

To help you achieve your goals, we ask you to share your likes and dislikes, fears, goals and aspirations for your stay. We treat your information in the strictest confidence, and share it only on a need-to-know basis with your consent. Your information is protected under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation.

Visitors

We welcome family and friends to spend private time with you. We have an open-door policy for visitors, but we ask for advance notice so we can let other residents know of your visitors’ arrival.

Family and friends are very welcome to join us at mealtimes. We ask that visitors respect others staying at the centre at the time of their visit.

Please ring us on (066) 912 9000 before you come, in case any health or infection-control guidance applies at the time of your visit.

Other visitors to the centre include tradespeople attending to maintenance such as plumbing and electrical work, and inspectors who visit to ensure we comply with all relevant legislation and HIQA care standards.

Emergency respite and closures

We keep a dedicated bedroom for emergency respite. It is allocated only when empty, based on the needs of the person requiring urgent support at that time, so that the accommodation provided is appropriate and responsive. When an emergency placement is necessary, the decision is made jointly by the Person in Charge and the HSE representative requesting it. Emergency admissions are carefully managed to prioritise the wellbeing and best interests of everyone staying with us.

In the event of a national or international emergency, or a pandemic, it may be necessary to temporarily suspend the residential respite service. We follow the guidance of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE at all times in such situations.

Who runs the centre

Montbretia House provides care and support for people with disabilities who need additional assistance, and is committed to fostering independent living wherever possible.

The Board of Directors is made up of David Pigott and Margaret Sauerland, together with our staff nurse and Clinical & Compliance Manager, Sinead O’Connell, who guide the strategic direction and governance of the centre.

Person in Charge

The Person in Charge is David Pigott (BA Social Care), who oversees care staff. The role includes:

• day-to-day governance of the centre, for safe and effective services;
• management of staff, resources and information, in line with the Health Act 2007 and the national standards monitored by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA);
• assigning complaints, concerns and safeguarding issues to the relevant qualified staff member;
• service planning with the team lead, coordinating activity and resources in the clinical and social area;
• overseeing your self-administration of medication, in collaboration with our staff.

Staff nurse, Clinical & Compliance Manager

• clinical governance of the centre, for safe and effective services;
• carrying out the initial individual risk assessment and the person-centred plan;
• arranging referrals on your behalf where needed — for example speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, a visit from the public health nurse, or a GP referral for a medication review;
• arranging access to wound care and bowel or bladder management programmes, and other personalised medical interventions;
• providing health promotion and education;
• staff development, training and practice development, and ensuring safe staffing levels with an appropriate skill mix.

Your information

All personal information about you and our staff is handled in strict accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, so that your privacy and the confidentiality of staff details are always maintained. Information is collected, stored and used only as necessary to deliver safe and effective services, and always in line with relevant legislation and standards.

Access to personal data is restricted to authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis. Any sharing or processing of information is carried out transparently and securely, with appropriate safeguards in place. We are committed to the principles of data protection, including fairness, transparency and accountability.

Comments and complaints

The social care team lead on duty oversees complaints. If they are absent, the Person in Charge, the Clinical & Compliance Manager or a senior staff member takes responsibility. Senior managers may also assist with logging and reporting complaints.

How to make a complaint

Residents, family members and anyone else can make a complaint:

• verbally, directly to any staff member;
• in writing, using the designated complaints form;
• by email or phone to the management team;
• through advocacy services or an HSE representative, if support is needed.

Complaints forms are available at the centre, in each client’s care folder, and on our internal system for staff use.

All complaints are acknowledged within 5 working days and investigated thoroughly. You will be told the outcome, and appropriate action is taken to resolve the issue. If you are dissatisfied, you can escalate the matter through the appeals process, which includes review by senior management and, if necessary, external mediation.

Support and feedback

• information in accessible formats, tailored to your needs;
• staff trained at induction and through ongoing refreshers to handle complaints sensitively and effectively;
• open disclosure and a culture of transparency, including meaningful apologies where service failures are identified;
• redress, including corrective actions and updates to care plans where necessary.

Confidentiality is strictly maintained throughout the process. Feedback is used to improve service quality, inform staff training, and update our policies and procedures.

Our Complaints, Suggestions and Compliments Policy is published on this website, included in our service user handbook and welcome pack, displayed on-site at the centre, and kept in each resident’s care plan folder.

Regulation and inspection

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) regulates designated centres for adults with disabilities, to make sure people get the best service possible. Our application to register Montbretia House as a designated centre is in progress, and we are preparing the service to meet the Health Act 2007 regulations and the national standards in full.

A copy of our HIQA reports is available to read on request. You can also visit www.hiqa.ie and search for “Local Living Respite Care Ltd – Montbretia House”. A member of our team can give you a full copy of a report, or a summary or accessible version, and can set up your device to read the document aloud for you.

Terms and conditions

Montbretia House is a six-bedroom centre, and our registration application is for six places. The key requirements for using the service are that you:

• have a primary disability, or dementia;
• live in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland;
• are aged between 18 and 64;
• have a medical assessment of needs.

What you agree to

• Accept the philosophy of assisted and independent living, and use the care service to remain as independent as practicable during your respite.
• Attend the pre-admission assessment meeting, bringing the completed documentation from your pack.
• Inform staff before you arrive of any current or past medical issues needing attention during your stay.
• Attend any HSE or related appointments that fall during your stay, where transport and a staff member are needed.
• Treat all staff and other guests with dignity, integrity and respect.
• Complete the person-centred questionnaire, and tell staff how best to meet your needs.
• Keep a diary of your activities and how they helped, or ask a staff member on duty to complete it with you; this forms part of your care plan.
• Complete a guest satisfaction report before returning home, so that we can identify areas to improve.
• Abide by the no-smoking policy, which includes vapes and e-cigarettes.
• Discuss and rehearse a Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP) with staff, to ensure you can leave safely in a fire or other emergency.
• Attend the guest activity planning meeting, where guests and residents decide together on shared activities for the week ahead.
• Disclose any personal medical information — including physical and mental or emotional health, and behavioural patterns — to management on the day of the suitability assessment. Non-disclosure may result in a guest returning home and no longer being deemed suitable for the centre.

You may choose to launder your clothes during your stay. If you do, we ask that you do not hold management or staff responsible for accidental damage to clothing as a result.

Respect for others

Breaching a term of the agreement may result in action depending on the nature and extent of the breach: a verbal warning, a written warning that stays on your file for a year, or immediate discharge from the centre. Examples of serious misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• disruptive behaviour;
• abusive language;
• failure to follow safety requirements;
• gross negligence with medication;
• physical violence or threatening behaviour;
• deliberate misrepresentation;
• bullying, intimidation, harassment or discrimination;
• deliberate damage to the property of the centre or of other residents;
• sexual harassment;
• consuming, or being under the influence of, illegal drugs or other substances of abuse;
• consuming alcohol in excess of the HSE recommended daily intake;
• taking the property of the centre, a guest or a staff member without authorisation;
• repeated absence from the centre without respectfully telling a staff member your intentions;
• wilful disregard of the designated centre and the independent living philosophy;
• flagrant disregard of safety procedures likely to endanger anyone while on an outing.

Conditions of registration

These are the conditions a designated centre operates under, and the standards we are preparing the service to meet as part of our registration application.

1. The designated centre shall at all times be operated in compliance with the Health Act 2007, as amended from time to time.
2. The centre shall at all times be operated in compliance with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Persons (Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2014, as amended, consolidated, restated or replaced from time to time, and in compliance with all other regulations made under the Health Act 2007 as amended from time to time.
3. The centre shall at all times be operated in compliance with the National Standards for Residential Services for Adults with Disabilities (January 2014), as amended, consolidated, restated or replaced from time to time, and in compliance with all other standards made under the Health Act 2007 and as the chief inspector may notify to the registered provider from time to time.
4. The centre shall at all times be operated in compliance with all other legislation, regulations and standards applicable to it.
5. Subject to any prohibitions or restrictions in any other condition, the centre shall at all times be operated in accordance with, and shall provide only the services set out in, its Statement of Purpose, as amended from time to time in accordance with Regulation 3.
6. No person under the age of 18 shall be accommodated at the centre at any time.
7. The maximum number of people who may be accommodated at the centre is 6.