Project Manager, Mental Health Archiving Project - role in the HSE open for applications

Background

The project genesis is from a Grangegorman Mental Health (MH) archive project undertaken by the Grangegorman Development Authority. While most of our public health institutions are 20th century in origin the mental health hospital service has its roots from early in the 19th century. Surveys conducted in 1995 and 2015 found that virtually all the mental health hospitals had records dating from the 19th century. In the absence of statutory protection for these records, staff in Grangegorman have played a major role in ensuring that records have been preserved working over several decades to preserve the records of what was Ireland’s earliest (1814) and largest public mental health hospital. This collection, now in the National Archives, represents the most extensive body of mental health records in the country.

Current Status

In July 2020 a working group was established to develop a national protocol covering all mental health archival records (pre-1970) with the aim of standardising the HSE’s approach to those wishing to access archival records and facilitating open access as much as possible within the law. This work was interrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022 the working group recommenced its work and the project resumed.

The working group includes membership from HSE Mental Health Services, Central Mental Hospital, each Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) as well as external representatives from the National Archives, Royal Irish Academy and Trinity College Dublin.

One of the primary deliverables of the working group is to create an official national protocol for the safekeeping of and access to historical mental health records for HSE services.

There is currently one specified purpose (48 Months) and whole-time vacancy available. 

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Grade VII, Project Manager, Mental Health Archiving Project within Operations Planning, Integrated Operations from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.

Closing date: 13 March 2023, 12pm. 

See more and apply on HSE wesbsite

Reference NRS13455 Grade VII, Project Manager, Mental Health Archiving Project - Extended

Image: permission granted by the Grangegorman Development Agency