Mary Mercer Family Centre access room refurb is opened
By William O'Connor
A REFURBISHED family access room in the Mary Mercer Health Centre in Jobstown was officially launched this week.
Launched by Tusla – Child and Family Agency, the refurbishment of the room known as the ‘Orange Room’, was a participatory effort with local children and young people leading the way.
Mayor Casserly, cuts the ribbon and officially launches the Orange Room with Joshua Ghori in the background
The people provided design concepts, artwork and poetry, quotes and, importantly, feedback on the project from the perspective of children and young people.
The access room in Mary Mercer Health Centre is the epi-centre of the Social Work Department.
It is the place where access happens between family members, and where Social Workers and Social Care Workers meet with children to undertake direct work and interviews.
An additional use of the access room has been as a space for teens who are out of placement, or who are transitioning between placements. It is the only room in the health centre that is allocated to the Social Work department.
The Orange Room was officially launched by Cllr. Vicki Casserly, Mayor of South Dublin County Council.
The Mayor then presided over an award ceremony in which the children and young people were presented with ‘Investing in Children’ Certificates of Achievement.
Brooke Dillon Doyle receives ‘Investing in Children’ Certificate of Achievement from Cllr Vicki Casserly with Audrey Warren and Caroline Darby, Social Care Worker, Tusla
These certificates were an acknowledgement of the critical work of local children and young people in bringing this project to fruition. The day was filled with celebration, music, pizza and cake.
Mayor Vicki Casserly, said: “It was a huge privilege to attend the opening of the refurbished Orange Room. I was so impressed at the work that was put in from the children, there is nothing that they didn’t think of. Children investing in other children, it was truly remarkable.
Congratulations to all support staff involved and I have no doubt they have created a wonderful asset for anyone who uses it. As one of their lovely works of art stated, ‘be the reason that someone smiles today’.
They have captured the essence of this in the orange Room. Congratulations.”
Audrey Warren, Area Manager for Kildare West Wicklow / Dublin South West, Tusla, said: “The refurbishment of the family room is a testament of the commitment and hard work of Tusla staff in Mary Mercer Health Centre and how a project of this nature can have such a positive impact on the young people that we work with.
It was wonderful on the day to see the children and young people so at ease with their surroundings and so excited to show everyone their own space and the outcome of all of their hard work.”
