UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

The origins of COPE Foundation in Cork occurred against a backdrop of profound changes in societal attitudes towards the education, care and rights of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. The Story of COPE Foundation is told in a Book which describes the evolution of the service (Keegan, 2003). The Foundation has been active in Cork City and County under a variety of names since 1957. On its founding by John Bermingham as the Cork Polio and General Aftercare Foundation, it provided care for people with polio during the 1950’s/1960’s. Following the polio epidemic of 1956, fundraising by the citizens of Cork City and County generated over a million pounds and it was agreed with the local community to use the excess funds to establish a day School for children with special needs. A second School changed function to become a residential care facility during the 1960s and the name changed to COPE Foundation in 1988 as its remit had changed to providing services for people of all ages with an intellectual disability. Taking cognizance of the historical development and issues for persons with an ID nationally and internationally the Chief Executive and Board of Directors of Cork Polio and After Care Association began to explore the possibility of a nurse training School in the early 1970s. The rationale for the decision to undertake nurse education and training was primarily to optimize the development, education, training and care of the clients in the varied services provided by COPE. In 1973, the St. James School of Nursing was approved by ABA as a training centre for Registered Nurse in Mental Handicap (RNMH). The first intake of 18 students took place on 28th October 1974 under the supervision of Mr. Paddy Hume who was the first Nurse Tutor appointed to the School. From 1974-2001 four models of curricula (1974, 1978, 1989, 1997) were implemented at the School of Nursing, with each syllabus designed more specifically than the last to meet the needs of the client group. Changes in service direction reflected those taking place at national and international levels. Different service ideologies have developed over the years due to changing societal and demographic trends, changing health care needs and nursing reforms. In addition, concern regarding quality of life, shared care planning, advocacy approaches and the provision of socio educational model of care as opposed to the traditional medical model influenced changes. In particular Shaping a Healthier Future (DoH 1994) influenced education for those working with individuals with mental disability. It stated “The objective of mental handicap services is to develop the person with mental handicap to the maximum of his/her potential. Thus service providers for those with mental handicap who provide care, education and training for the clients must be provided with maximum educational opportunities. The person with MH is entitled to the same care as every other citizen. It is therefore vital that the DOH give funding to mental handicap nurse training Schools for inclusion in third level programmes as soon as possible” (p.70).

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