An Cuan Regional Outreach Support Service (ACROSS)

We recommend that the referral form is completed by someone who knows the Person well with input from others as needed.  Individuals with disabilities themselves, families and advocates can also make a referral, however the organisation that they are currently using for supports needs to also sign our ‘service agreement form’ and engage with An Cuan as required.

School Leavers Programme (SLP)

Students in their final year of school can be referred to An Cuan by the Day Service Opportunity Officer (DSOO). If you are a teacher, carer or parent that has concerns about the student upcoming transition to adult service, let the DSOO know and ask them to make a referral to An Cuan’s school leaver programme.

ACROSS Referrals

For An Cuan Regional Outreach Support Service complete the referral pack (available online) and return to An Cuan (ancuan@horizonscork.ie or Joe McDonald, An Cuan Regional Co-ordinator, Horizons, Montenotte, Cork, with the required documentation (see below).

Should you need any assistance with completing a referral please contact us and we will be glad to help!

SLP Referrals

Referrals for the School Leaver Programme are currently made through the Day Service Opportunity Officers (DSOOs).

For the ACROSS service

• The applicant must be aged 18 or over and be a person with a mild, moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability (with or without an Autism diagnosis) that presents with behaviours that challenge.
• The Person must reside in or attend a service in counties Cork or Kerry.
• The Person must be attached or transiting to an agency, organisation or HSE service providing supports to Persons with a disability.
• The person must require behaviour support or support transiting to adult services.

For the School Leavers Programme

• Applicants must be at least 17 years old, in their final year of school and be transitioning to an adult service.
• The Person must reside in or attend a school in counties Cork or Kerry.
• The Person must be transiting to an agency, organisation or HSE service providing supports to Persons with a disability.
• The person must require support transiting to adult services.

General Exclusion Criteria

• The Person’s primary challenge cannot be a mental health diagnosis. While An Cuan does support People that have dual diagnosis i.e., intellectual disability and a mental health diagnosis, we are not a Mental Health service. Should mental health become the Person’s primary challenge, An Cuan may request support from the person’s mental health team and An Cuan’s behaviour support may be put on hold until the person’s mental health is stable.
• The Person cannot have chemical dependency issues (alcohol or non-prescribed medications).
• The Person cannot currently be engaged with the criminal justice system.
• The Person must have a primary service, as An Cuan is a supplementary service.

An Cuan Regional Outreach Support Service (ACROSS)

Each individual that uses the supports of ACROSS is assigned An Cuan staff that will develop with them and their circle of support a new Person-Centred Plan (PCP) and a comprehensive Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plan. They will also carry out a Multi-disciplinary assessment (where necessary) with recommendations (all as appropriate and necessary).

The ACROSS team shall also offer training to the circle of supports e.g., support staff, family, etc on subjects such as PCP’s, PBS Planning, Autism, etc. as appropriate.

School Leaver Programme (SLP)

The aim of the SLP is to support a student to transition from their school to their adult service.

Some student have very specific support needs, they might find change very difficult. The SLP aims to learn about their support needs in the student’s final year of school.

We then handover that information to the new service and help set up the environment for success.

An Cuan Regional Outreach Support Service (ACROSS)

An Cuan may have to place individuals referred on a waiting list from time to time but will always endeavour to respond as quickly as possible within our available resources.

School Leaver Programme (SLP)

Because the information is gathered in the final year of school, a wait list does not apply, this is a short-term piece of work that takes place in the final year and the beginning of their adult placement.

Click here to download full list of Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any other questions that are not covered here, please contact us – we will be happy to help!