Waterford disability service scoops prestigious healthcare award

The Vita Community Hub has taken home the award for Best Day Care Centre award at the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards.

The RehabCare disability support service scoped the award for championing community inclusion for its 24 members by creating an environment that empowers and facilitates personal and professional growth.

Initiatives included community engagement and a job activation programme.

These innovative programmes on offer have helped individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life.

Vita Programme Supervisor James O’Halloran said they are thrilled to have won the award.

“We have been on a high all week since winning this award. The team is thrilled to have achieved this national recognition for our dynamic educational, advocacy, and employment programmes at Vita. 

"This award is a testament to the unique impact of our service and the difference it has made to people’s lives,” Mr O'Halloran said.

In addition, the promotion of third-level education is a top priority for the Vita team.

In collaboration with South East Technological University Humanities department, staff in Vita developed a pilot project, which allowed its members to study a hospitality course in the college.

Throughout the academic year, individuals from Vita worked alongside hospitality students in the SETU training restaurant and ran the Growth Café on campus.

The judges credited the service for developing a unique staged job activation programme, focused on harnessing each individual’s essential job skills.

Community collaboration is key for the programme’s success, with the Vita team actively creating multiple partnerships with employers throughout the locality.

Broadcaster Martin King was on MC duty at the ceremony in the Clayton Hotel Dublin, leading the evening’s celebrations with good humour and charm.

Hundreds of leaders and representatives from the disability and healthcare sectors gathered for the prestigious event to celebrate outstanding achievements in service provision.