Introduction to Inclusion Health (2025–26)
Prof Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, Course Director
CPD Accreditation
CPD approval will be sought from the Royal College of Physicians Ireland. 30 CPD Credits to be claimed after completing this course (24 External Credits endorsed by RCPI and 6 Personal Learning Credits).
Overview
People who experience one or more aspects of social exclusion — such as state care in childhood, drug addiction, incarceration, homelessness, forced migration, or belonging to a minoritised ethnic group (e.g. Traveller, Aboriginal, or Roma) — face disproportionately high levels of ill-health and significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Reducing these health inequities requires specialised, tailored interventions that address both the unique mental and physical health needs of people experiencing social exclusion (PESE) and their broader psychosocial and material circumstances.
Inclusion Health (IH) is an interdisciplinary approach to practice, research, and policy that seeks to understand and meet the complex health needs of socially excluded populations. Over the past decade, Ireland has become a leader in developing and implementing IH expertise across both hospital and community settings.
Inclusion Health is now embedded in Irish health policy, and a national framework and model of care are currently under development by the Department of Health and the HSE.
This course offers a practice-based, interdisciplinary introduction to Inclusion Health, with a focus on improving access, equity, and outcomes for marginalised groups. It is designed for professionals in health, social care, and community services who work with — or are interested in working with — people affected by social exclusion.
Through a hybrid format combining in-person and live online sessions, participants will explore core topics such as trauma-informed care, health inequities, system-level responses, and culturally responsive approaches to care.
- Dr Austin O’Carroll, Grangegorman Family Practice & North Dublin City GP Training Scheme
- Mr Joe Doyle, National Lead Social Inclusion
- Mr Jim Walsh, Department of Health
- Dr Ciaran Browne, HSE Acute Operations
- Dr Tara McGinty, Inclusion Health Consultant, MMUH
- Dr Niamh Allen, Inclusion Health Consultant, St James's Hospital
- Prof Patrick O’Donnell, GP and Associate Professor, University of Limerick
- Dr Aoibheann Conneely, Palliative Care Consultant, St James's Hospital
- Rachael Ferguson, Inclusion Health Senior Medical Social Worker, St James's Hospital
- Dr Eileen Sweeney, Consultant psychiatrist with the Inclusion Mental Health Service in Dublin South
- Dr Aoibhinn Walsh, Children’s Health Ireland
- Prof Jo-Hanna Ivers, Associate Professor, Trinity College Dublin
- Prof Rory Hearne, Maynooth University
- Paul Merrigan, Person-centred Care Lead, Inclusion Health Service, St James's Hospital
- Prof Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, Inclusion Health Consultant, St James's Hospital and Associate Professor, Trinity College Dublin
- Dr Georgia Richard, Neurologist St James’s Hospital and ICAT PhD Scholar, Inclusion Health Research Group, Trinity College Dublin
- Jess Sears, Inclusion Health ANP, St James’s Hospital
- Dr Rikke Siersbaek, Research Fellow, Inclusion Health Research Group, Trinity College Dublin
- Prof Julie Broderick, TCD
- Prof Siobhan Neville, Paediatric Inclusion Health Consultant and Associate Professor, University of Limerick
- Eibhlín Collins, Inclusion Health ANP, Mercy University Hospital, Cork
Delivery: Hybrid – 2 in-person days and 7 live online sessions
CPD Credits: 30 (24 taught hours + 6 hours self-directed learning)
Location: Trinity College Dublin, St James’s Hospital Campus & Zoom
The course is structured around key themes including:
- Foundations of Inclusion Health
- Trauma-informed care principles and practice
- Health inequalities and systemic exclusion
- Working with Traveller, migrant, and prison-involved populations
- Housing, addiction, and continuity of care
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and simulation-based learning
Self-directed learning includes pre-readings, reflective journaling, roleplay preparation, and engagement with curated media (e.g., podcasts, videos).
Who Should Apply?
The course is open to professionals in health, allied health, social work, youth and community work, housing and support services, and related fields. It is particularly relevant for those supporting people experiencing homelessness, addiction, incarceration, or ethnic and cultural marginalisation.
In-Person Day 1: Wednesday 8 October 2025 – Trinity College Dublin
|
Time |
Session |
|
09:00 – 09:30 |
Welcome & Course Overview |
|
09:30 – 12.30 |
Experiences working in Inclusion Health |
|
12:30 – 13:30 |
Lunch and networking |
|
13.30 – 14.30 |
Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care |
|
14:30 – 15:30 |
Inclusion health policy in Ireland |
|
15:30 – 16:30 |
Housing and health |
Live Online Sessions (Wednesdays, time to be decided by the group, via Zoom)
Course topics are provisional and subject to confirmation
|
Date |
Theme |
|
12 Nov 2025 |
Traveller Health |
|
10 Dec 2025 |
Prison and health |
|
14 Jan 2026 |
Nutrition |
|
11 Feb 2026 |
Educational framework |
|
11 Mar 2026 |
Sexual health |
|
8 Apr 2026 |
Thrombosis |
|
14 May 2026 |
Children’s health |
In-Person Day 2: Wednesday 17 June 2026 – Trinity College Dublin
|
Time |
Session |
|
09:00 – 09:30 |
Arrival & Recap of Learning |
|
09:30 – 10:30 |
Cognition and Inclusion Health |
|
10:30 – 12:45 |
Trauma-Informed Care, Transformative Simulation |
|
12:45-13.45 |
Lunch and networking |
|
13:45 – 15:30 |
Optional workshops on emotional regulation and developing a business case |
|
15:30 – 16:30 |
Final Q&A, Feedback & Next Steps |
Fees
|
POCC consultant |
1000 |
|
Non-POCC consultant, SpR, HSE staff with access to funding |
500 |
|
Non-POCC consultant, SpR, HSE staff with no access to funding |
100 |