Policy
Reports
Choice Matters: Towards A Continuum of Support and Care for Older People
Choice Matters, published by Sage Advocacy, examines how the “dangerous architecture” on which the current system of care in congregated settings for older people is built, presented major difficulties in responding to the challenges of Covid-19.
Choice Matters also highlights key long term care issues in Ireland and provides a policy action framework for an alternative model of long-term support and care which could be progressed through the Government’s proposed Commission on Care.
Responding to the support & care needs of our older population
In 2016 Sage in partnership with Third Age, Family Carers Ireland and Alone established a Forum on Long-Term Care, and launched the report ‘Responding to the Support and Care Needs of Our Older Population’ at an event in June 2016. The report found there is a broad consensus on the direction that our approach to supporting older people who need care should take. This includes enabling people to stay at home and in their own communities for as long as possible, to cater for people at the lowest appropriate level of complexity and the need to provide high quality residential care when and if this is needed.
Discussion Papers
Supporting Vulnerable Adults to Manage Their Finances
Sage Advocacy, having consulted widely with stakeholders in the statutory and voluntary sectors involved in money management for these groups of adults who are vulnerable, have now brought together in one document the Regulatory Framework and Legislative Provisions that apply to the management of the personal finances of people in residential care services.
Delivering Quality Medical Care in Irish Nursing Homes: Current Practice, Issues & Challenges
The Delivering Quality Care in Irish Nursing Homes Discussion Document is aimed at encouraging debate about medical care in nursing homes in Ireland by identifying current practice and highlighting issues as identified by key stakeholders. It describes existing policy, legislative and regulatory provisions and current practice by GPs and locates these, as far as possible, with reflective practices in other comparable jurisdictions. It also describes blockages and challenges identified by key stakeholders and sets out possible options for addressing these.
The Nursing Home Support Scheme: Charges and Related Issues
In December 2016 Sage Advocacy published a discussion document which was developed following a public consultation on nursing home fees and charges. The consultation showed there is an urgent need for more debate around nursing home fees and charges as these apply to people who avail of the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS).
Submissions
Draft General Scheme and Heads of Bill on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021
Sage Advocacy welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the Draft General Scheme and Heads of Bill Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021 – hereafter the Amendment Bill.
Garda Síochána Inspectorate (January 2022)
Sage Advocacy very much welcomes the fact that the Garda Síochána Inspectorate is carrying out an
inspection into the effectiveness and efficiency of the Garda Síochána’s response to domestic abuse. Sage Advocacy provides advocacy and support services to older people, adults who may be
vulnerable and healthcare patients.
Ireland Initial Report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This Submission draws mainly on the casework experience of Sage Advocacy in delivering independent advocacy to vulnerable adults over the past five years, including, in particular, vulnerable adults with a disability.
COVID-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel
Because of the range and depth of our work across all regions of the country, particularly with people whose decision-making capacity is in question, Sage Advocacy is in a position to provide useful insights into the response to Covid-19.
Law Reform Commission Issues Paper: A Regulatory Framework for Safeguarding Adults
This Paper is an important step in developing an adequate safeguarding system in Ireland for adults who may be vulnerable. A central focus of Sage Advocacy is safeguarding adults who may be vulnerable to abuse in any form – physical, financial, sexual or psychological.
Data Protection Commission on Regulatory Strategy 2020-2025
Sage Advocacy welcomes the Public Consultation on the DPC’s Regulatory Strategy 2020-2025- Consultation Round 1 of 2: Target Outcomes.
Inform the preparation of the National Policy on Social Enterprise (May 2019)
Sage Advocacy believes strongly that social enterprise has considerable underdeveloped potential in the delivery of care and support services to older people in an innovative and people-centred manner which uses resources efficiently and provides excellent value for money.
Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care
In January 2018 Sage Advocacy made a submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care, which was established in 2017 to achieve cross-party consensus on a long-term vision for mental health care and the direction of mental health policy in Ireland. The Joint Committee published its final report in October 2018.
Department of Health on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
In March 2018 Sage Advocacy made a submission as part of the Department of Health public consultation on draft legislation to provide deprivation of liberty safeguards. It is intended that safeguards to ensure a person is not unlawfully deprived of liberty will form Part 13 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
In April 2018 Sage Advocacy made a submission to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation on the Consultation on Proposed Guiding Principles to frame the State’s Economic Migration Policy. We made a brief submission in relation to the principles of most relevance to the care sector.
Department of Justice on Implementation of OPCAT
In April 2018 Sage Advocacy made a submission to the Department of Justice on the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPACT).
Expert Group on Management of Clinical Negligence Claims
In June 2018 the Government established an Expert Group to review current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims. In response to an invitation Sage Advocacy made a submission to the Expert Group based on the experiences of patient advocacy.
Citizens Assembly
In May 2017 Sage Advocacy made a submission to the Citizens Assembly on the topic of Responding to the Challenges and Opportunities of an Ageing Population. The Submission provides a general overview of how the considerable challenges and opportunities of an ageing population in Ireland should be identified and addressed. It draws heavily on the work of the Forum on Long-Term Care for Older People.
UNCAT: Human Rights: Vulnerable Adults & Older People in Ireland
In June 2017 Sage Advocacy made a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) as part of the review of Ireland’s implementation of the UN Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment on 27th and 28th July 2017.