Only by Helping Each Other We Can Make Dreams Happen
Some families you are born into while others are where you find yourself.
Sunbeam House Services relies on a close relationship with our families; working together to ensure the well-being of all of our clients, in all areas of their lives.
Family News
F.A.Q.
What does Sunbeam do?
Sunbeam is a largely Wicklow-based charity registered with
the Charity Regulator in Ireland that provides social care
support services to people with an intellectual disability
on behalf of the Health Service Executive. Our services
include:-
• Residential;
• Respite;
• Self-Directed Living;
• Day Services.
What level of disability do you cater for in your services?
disability to those with profound disabilities.
What is the minimum age?
SHS is an adult service; therefore, all our clients are aged 18 and over.
Do you provide respite and if so for how long can a person stay?
Yes, Sunbeam provides respite in three locations - Bray, Shankill and Arklow. The length of stay varies from a usual stay of a few days, up to one week at a time.
Can people transfer to another service (internal or external) if they wish?
Yes, clients can apply to transfer within an SHS service or to another external disability service. This is handled through SHS’s Referrals Committee.
Do you have a residential service?
Sunbeam does offer residential services throughout Wicklow.
Do you have day services and where?
Sunbeam does provide a range of day services throughout County Wicklow.
How do I make a complaint about the service?
SHS is committed to providing a quality service for those supported within our services, their families, guardians and advocates. SHS’s Complaints Policy was developed in line with the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Healthcare Charter ‘Your Service, Your Say’ to meet SHS’s responsibilities of ensuring that people who use the service, their families, and members of the public are aware of their right to make a complaint and their rights throughout the complaint process. Complaints can be made: • In person; • By telephone; • By letter; • By email; • By making a video recording; • By making a voice recording. In line with our policy, in most instances, complaints are managed by the Person in Charge (PIC) in charge of your family member’s service. However, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to bring a complaint to the Senior/Operations Manager (S/OM) in that area. SHS operates a ‘No wrong door’ approach to complaints management. This means that a complaint can be disclosed to any SHS staff member the complainant chooses to make their complaint to. All SHS staff are trained to receive, report and respond to complaints when they are disclosed.
My family-member is in the service, how can I find out more about their activities, etc?
Each location/centre has a Person in Charge (PIC). They would be happy to meet with you to discuss any questions you may have around your family member’s service. Should you not be able to find the answer to a query at this level, the matter can be escalated to the Senior/Operations Manager (S/OM) for the area.
Can I visit a location/service if I want to?
Yes, the Person in Charge (PIC) of the centre/ location can arrange for yourself and your family member/ advocate to visit at a date/time of your convenience. Most of our houses are shared with other clients, and their privacy needs must be respected when arranging visits.
How can I see the latest HIQA reports relating to my family-member's centre?
All HIQA reports for residential and respite centres are uploaded to the internet and are freely available on the HIQA website: https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-andpublications/ inspection-reports. Simply type in the name of respite or residential centre into the ‘Search by Keywords’ section and the latest reports will be shown.
Can I donate to Sunbeam or do some fundraising?
All donations are gratefully received. There is a ‘Donate’ button on our website, www.sunbeam.ie, through which a person can make a donation. For anyone wishing to fundraise, please contact SHS’s Chief Executive Officer to receive permission and advice. Any donations, or monies received from fundraising, are utilised for special projects which are not covered by HSE funding.