Minister Calleary announces that the Department of Social Protection is now a JAM (Just-a-Minute) Card friendly organisation and launches the introduction of Quiet Rooms in the department’s Intreo Centre network

• all the department’s public offices and phone lines are now JAM Card friendly
• 2,900 staff trained in JAM Card awareness
• quiet room established in 51 Intreo Centres with four more in progress

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, today announced that the Department of Social Protection has been appointed as a JAM (Just a Minute) Card friendly organisation.

JAM supports people with an invisible disability or a communication barrier to let others know that they need extra time and patience, in a simple and discreet non-verbal manner. JAM Cards are available as a physical card or as a digital App.

The rollout of this initiative delivers on two of the commitments in the Programme for Government; to support the rollout of JAM Cards to break down communication barriers, and to promote training initiatives to raise awareness and understanding of disabilities to better equip staff.

A key focus of the training will be recognising and responding to the JAM Card, a simple, discreet tool developed by social enterprise, NOW Group.

Speaking about this initiative, Minister Calleary said:

“I am delighted to support the introduction of the JAM Card across the department. We have trained over 2,900 staff to recognise the physical card and the digital app, who are now better equipped to support people who may have an invisible disability or difficulty communicating.

"The JAM Card is a simple, practical expression of our commitment to inclusiveness and quality customer service. Our staff have embraced the idea of making the conversation at the counter or over the phone an easier experience for all.

"Adopting the JAM Card helps raise awareness of invisible disabilities and opens the space for a better engagement with colleagues and customers.”

Maeve Monaghan, Chief Executive of the NOW Group added:

“With over 185,000 JAM Card users across Ireland and the UK, we are delighted that the Department of Social Protection has invested in JAM Card training. This training ensures that individuals with both visible and invisible disabilities receive the extra time and understanding they deserve.

“As a social enterprise, we are dedicated to championing diversity and equality for all, however, we can’t achieve this alone. It’s essential that we collaborate with public and private organisations to promote inclusivity for everyone. We are thrilled to have the Department of Social Protection join us on this important journey.”

Minister Calleary has also announced the introduction of Quiet Rooms in the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo Centres. The aim is to have a room available to any customer who would benefit from a calm, quiet space such as:

• people who are neurodiverse
• people who are stressed, vulnerable or upset due to, for example, a recent trauma or life event
• people who need more time and space to discuss their business

To date, a Quiet Room has been installed at 51 of the department’s offices with a further four in progress.

Speaking from the Quiet Room in Nutgrove Intreo Centre, Minister Calleary said:

“Having a Quiet Room in our public offices is a very important element in ensuring our offices are welcoming and inclusive. They have been specially designed to provide a sensory-friendly experience to help individuals relax, focus, and conduct their business with us easily and in private. The Quiet Room initiative fits very well into the range of measures Government is progressing to ensure our services are easy to access for all our customers.”

Pictured at Nutgrove Intreo Centre are: (L-R) Orla Healy – DSP, Brian Mallen – NOW Group, Amy Dowley – JAM Card Ambassador, Maeve Monaghan – NOW Group CEO, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary, Anne-Marie Coonan – DSP, Frances Gaynor – DSP, Rachel Woods – DSP, Síle Hunt – DSP.

Photo credit Maxwell Photography.

The JAM Card is an initiative of the social enterprise NOW group. It was designed in 2012 by some of their participants with learning disabilities and autism. The card was developed based on their own experiences and is all about putting the power to pause into their hands.

Throughout the island of Ireland there are now over 185,000 JAM Card users and it is supported by retailers, large corporate businesses and many public bodies. More information is available at JAM Card.

The introduction of a Quiet Room in Intreo Centres is a commitment in the department’s Customer Action Plan 2023-2026. This commitment is also one of the actions in the government’s Autism Innovation Strategy on which the department is required to report.

The rooms have been specially designed to provide a sensory-friendly experience to help individuals relax, focus, and conduct their business with us easily and in private. They are clutter free, painted a muted blue with dimmer lighting, a mood lamp and artwork.

A prototype room was developed in Limerick Intreo in 2019 by staff and launched by Adam Harris, CEO of the AsIAm organisation. Following on from this successful initiative, two pilot Quiet Rooms were established in Nutgrove and Clondalkin Intreo Centres based on the agreed design.