<p><span style="font-size: 12px;">It is well documented and generally accepted that the demands placed on social care practitioners in supporting those in care through challenging circumstances can contribute to high levels of stress and burnout.  It is now accepted that increased self-awareness and self-care practices, implemented regularly, may greatly decrease the impact of these high levels of stress, while also serving as strategies for coping during particularly stressful times.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">The ‘interconnections between contemplative practices, including mindfulness, as coping and preventative strategies for self-care practice among human service workers are beginning to emerge.’ [1]</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">This is a practical participatory one-day course exploring how mindfulness is currently used in a range of health and social care settings, and what is involved in adopting a mindfulness-based approach to working within the social care setting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Methodology: Short inputs, individual and small group mindfulness exercises, individual reflection, and group discussion.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Resources: Each participant will takes home a copy of course materials, and a resource pack for developing a mindfulness practice.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Course Developer and Facilitator</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">The course has been developed by Dee Hennessy after practicing mindfulness for twenty five years, and who has worked in social care in Ireland for much of that time, in a variety of settings including High Support, Therapeutic Communities, Community Support, and Mainstream Residential Settings. Dee has been offering Mindfulness Training, Workshops, and Mindfulness Coaching in Ireland and abroad for over ten years. Dee is currently completing an MSC in Mindfulness Based Interventions in UCD, and her work here is very much on using evidence based research on mindfulness based interventions to support strong management and staff team resilience within social care organisations.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Feedback from previous Management Consultancy Client</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘Fabulous intuition and insight. I would just like to thank you for all your extremely hard work, your support, commitment and dedication. We would not be where we are today but for your perseverance, support, fairness and balanced view, no matter what issues you encountered you showed the utmost  respect for all you met along the way. You truly are so professional, a bearer of many gifts, a wealth of knowledge a person who is not afraid of sharing her wisdom to help, guide, and support with many new skills….. no task was too big or too small and It was a real pleasure to work with you.’   Patricia Dowling, Director of Services Traveller Family Care, Dublin September 2016</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Below are some quotes evaluations carried out by Dept of Education on CPD summer courses delivered to teachers in Cork and Kilkenny 2015/2016.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Wonderful – if a follow on to this course was available I would love to attend’</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Well done, excellently paced, excellently structured’.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Mindfulness is very necessary in our lives today, even more so in children’s  lives where everything is hectic. This course has given me insights and tools to bring mindfulness into my classroom’.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Great course that will benefit me personally and professionally’.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ I loved how Dee did not bombard us with handouts and information – this course was experiential – so practical’.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Very enjoyable course and I leave feeling confident about implementing what I learned’</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ I found the course very helpful both personally and professionally. It was really worthwhile and insightful’</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Very relaxing course. I gained a lot of insight over the week’.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">‘ Wonderful, fabulous, calming, emotional – I loved every minute of it ‘.</span></p>