HSE supporting “Advance Planning” event in Kilkenny

The Decision Support Service, working with the HSE’s South East Safeguarding team, are hosting an “Advance Planning” evening in Kilkenny on Thursday 5th of March and followed next day (Friday 6th of March) by a public helpdesk.

The Decision Support Service is a new public service body established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

The Decision Support Service (DSS) provides an essential service for people who face difficulties and need support exercising their decision-making capacity. This may include, but is not limited to, people with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, mental health difficulty or dementia. This also includes all people who want to plan for a time when they might lose their capacity. The DSS helps to protect and uphold people’s rights to make their own decisions about their personal welfare, property, and affairs.

The “Advance Planning” event in Kilkenny features a public information evening in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny on Thursday and which will be addressed by the Director of the DSS Áine Flynn. Taking place from 6-7pm, it will focus on how people can be supported to plan ahead and the practical steps required to create an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA). All are welcome.

On Friday, also in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny from 9.30-10.30am (for legal professionals) and 10.30-5.30pm for the public, there will be one-to-one sessions with staff from the Decision Support Service. This is a practical walk-through session, where each person can book their own appointment, bring their own documentation and discuss how they might prepare their own Enduring Power of Attorney application.

Enda Walsh (Principal Social Worker/Assisted Decision Making, HSE South East Safeguarding team) says both events are open to anyone to attend but in the case of the one-to-one helpdesk:

• Book to attend a slot at the one-to-one help desks on Friday by way of Freephone (01) 211 9750 and ask for the Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) Helpdesk, e-mail EPAhelpdesk@decisionsupportservice.ie or click on the booking option on the DSS website at Advance planning event in Kilkenny with the Decision Support Service | Decision Support Service
• It would be an advantage to have a verified MyGovID account, a current/in date photo ID, proofs of address (dated within the last six months). For further information on some important questions to consider about an Enduring Power of Attorney, see the checklist at Checklists | Decision Support Service