As advisers to boards in a range of listed and private companies, we are often asked for guidance by new and aspiring non-executive directors. Through combining our experience and perspective in providing board advice, we have developed a guide that provides insight into the NED role as well as practical advice on how to secure that first external appointment. We hope you find the information useful and informative.
The economic impact of coronavirus means that many voluntary sector organisations will be going through a period of significant change over the coming months. For many of the hardest hit charities, the process of restructuring and making redundancies will sadly be inevitable. In this webinar we help organisations prepare for this context.
together Program - Poster Board Recap; Carers NSW Carers Conference 2015, Syd...togetherprogram
The together program provides opportunities for existing and new support groups (for carers of people with disability in New South Wales) to be linked in with each other and an organisation to receive some assistance.
The together: Support groups for carers of people with a disability in NSW program came about through an unmet need for a funded, coordinated, state-wide network of support groups for carers of people living with disability.
The together program is centrally managed by Carers NSW and funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
The together program provides:
* Structured support to support groups for carers of people with disability, including training, education and support for the facilitator.
* Funding to assist with some group costs that can include venue hire, administration, resources and guest speakers.
* Central coordination of support groups for carers of people with disability.
* Capacity building for organisations working with support groups for carers of people with disability.
The together program seeks to address the needs of support groups for carers of people with disability that are unmet by other programs funded by other sources in New South Wales.
www.togethersupportgroups.net.au
As advisers to boards in a range of listed and private companies, we are often asked for guidance by new and aspiring non-executive directors. Through combining our experience and perspective in providing board advice, we have developed a guide that provides insight into the NED role as well as practical advice on how to secure that first external appointment. We hope you find the information useful and informative.
The economic impact of coronavirus means that many voluntary sector organisations will be going through a period of significant change over the coming months. For many of the hardest hit charities, the process of restructuring and making redundancies will sadly be inevitable. In this webinar we help organisations prepare for this context.
together Program - Poster Board Recap; Carers NSW Carers Conference 2015, Syd...togetherprogram
The together program provides opportunities for existing and new support groups (for carers of people with disability in New South Wales) to be linked in with each other and an organisation to receive some assistance.
The together: Support groups for carers of people with a disability in NSW program came about through an unmet need for a funded, coordinated, state-wide network of support groups for carers of people living with disability.
The together program is centrally managed by Carers NSW and funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
The together program provides:
* Structured support to support groups for carers of people with disability, including training, education and support for the facilitator.
* Funding to assist with some group costs that can include venue hire, administration, resources and guest speakers.
* Central coordination of support groups for carers of people with disability.
* Capacity building for organisations working with support groups for carers of people with disability.
The together program seeks to address the needs of support groups for carers of people with disability that are unmet by other programs funded by other sources in New South Wales.
www.togethersupportgroups.net.au
Social care information packs
This is a series of short information sheets and matching slide sets about how social care staff can support people with learning disabilities to have better access to health services. They provide an introduction to each area and links to where further information and useful resources can be found.
These slides and short film provide an introduction to the Coalition for Collaborative Care and its vision for a better deal for people with long-term health conditions.
Challenging social injustice in adults' social health and care serviceCANorfolk
Belinda Schwehr from the legal advice charity CASCAIDr shares her and CASCAIDr’s perspectives on key issues and developments in relation to adults’ health and social care services.
These slides are from a presentation at the Think Local Act Personal conference on 26th November 2014. The slides and short film provide an introduction to the Coalition for Collaborative Care and its vision for a better deal for people with long-term conditions.
Slides from a webinar broadcast on 30 April 2020. Coronavirus has redefined the way many charities are operating with social distancing measures, a sudden reduction in resources combined with increased need. In this webinar we give you practical tips for some of the key things trustees should be thinking about, and signposting you to useful resources to help you navigate this uncertainty.
Watch the webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34H_b2MtNxc
Villa Maria: Creating choices and building inclusive, sustainable and compass...ways2work
Presentation given at the Right to Request Business Forum, Melbourne 19 May 2010. Case study of flexible, family friendly work practices implemented in a Seniors Service.
The National Youth Reference Group is made up of young people aged 16-25 from England, who have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness. The project has been set up and supported by The Department for Communities and Local Government. The group is available to assist National and Local Government and homeless agencies and councils to improve involvement opportunities for young people.
The role of DPULOs - presentation from CCIL CEO Lynne TurnbullRich Watts
Presentation given by Lynne Turnbull - CEO of Cheshire CIL and a Strengthening DPULOs Programme Ambassador - at a recent Capita conference on the role of DPULOs.
Here we share our progress on updating the Charity Governance Code. Hear from the Code steering group about changes that are being made to the Diversity and Integrity principles following its refresh.
The panel will share some of the proposed changes to the Integrity principle, offering a preview of the updates. They will also reflect on findings from engagement and the extended consultation on enhancements to the Diversity principle. This will be an opportunity for the steering group to share their learning, having listened to a range of experiences. It is also an opportunity to discuss best practice which has been identified through the revision work. Finally, the group will offer an update on next steps on the Code's revision.
Employment and Skills 2018: Universal Credit and Work and Health: Practical e...Policy in Practice
Policy in Practice was invited to host a session on how Universal Credit is supporting people on the work and health programme at the revamped Employment and Skills Conference 2018.
Policy in Practice’s Benefit and Budgeting Calculator helps people on the Work and Health programme understand and navigate the benefit system and how the move onto Universal Credit will affect them. In our session we were joined by Marise Mackie, Contract Manager, from Pluss and Hazel Dales, Partnership & Integration Manager from Ingeus. They shared practical, on the ground examples of the work they’re doing to help people transform their lives as Universal Credit rolls out across the UK.
To find out how Policy in Practice’s software helps build financial resilience visit www.policyinpractice.co.uk/software, email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk or call 0330 088 9242.
Presentation by representatives from Milton Keynes Local Authority and MacIntyre regarding “On Track Forensic Support model”. The model supports people with complex behaviour move back to the community. Staff give different views on what works.
MacIntyre is a specialist service for people with learning disabilities or autism who have offended or are at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
Social care information packs
This is a series of short information sheets and matching slide sets about how social care staff can support people with learning disabilities to have better access to health services. They provide an introduction to each area and links to where further information and useful resources can be found.
These slides and short film provide an introduction to the Coalition for Collaborative Care and its vision for a better deal for people with long-term health conditions.
Challenging social injustice in adults' social health and care serviceCANorfolk
Belinda Schwehr from the legal advice charity CASCAIDr shares her and CASCAIDr’s perspectives on key issues and developments in relation to adults’ health and social care services.
These slides are from a presentation at the Think Local Act Personal conference on 26th November 2014. The slides and short film provide an introduction to the Coalition for Collaborative Care and its vision for a better deal for people with long-term conditions.
Slides from a webinar broadcast on 30 April 2020. Coronavirus has redefined the way many charities are operating with social distancing measures, a sudden reduction in resources combined with increased need. In this webinar we give you practical tips for some of the key things trustees should be thinking about, and signposting you to useful resources to help you navigate this uncertainty.
Watch the webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34H_b2MtNxc
Villa Maria: Creating choices and building inclusive, sustainable and compass...ways2work
Presentation given at the Right to Request Business Forum, Melbourne 19 May 2010. Case study of flexible, family friendly work practices implemented in a Seniors Service.
The National Youth Reference Group is made up of young people aged 16-25 from England, who have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness. The project has been set up and supported by The Department for Communities and Local Government. The group is available to assist National and Local Government and homeless agencies and councils to improve involvement opportunities for young people.
The role of DPULOs - presentation from CCIL CEO Lynne TurnbullRich Watts
Presentation given by Lynne Turnbull - CEO of Cheshire CIL and a Strengthening DPULOs Programme Ambassador - at a recent Capita conference on the role of DPULOs.
Here we share our progress on updating the Charity Governance Code. Hear from the Code steering group about changes that are being made to the Diversity and Integrity principles following its refresh.
The panel will share some of the proposed changes to the Integrity principle, offering a preview of the updates. They will also reflect on findings from engagement and the extended consultation on enhancements to the Diversity principle. This will be an opportunity for the steering group to share their learning, having listened to a range of experiences. It is also an opportunity to discuss best practice which has been identified through the revision work. Finally, the group will offer an update on next steps on the Code's revision.
Employment and Skills 2018: Universal Credit and Work and Health: Practical e...Policy in Practice
Policy in Practice was invited to host a session on how Universal Credit is supporting people on the work and health programme at the revamped Employment and Skills Conference 2018.
Policy in Practice’s Benefit and Budgeting Calculator helps people on the Work and Health programme understand and navigate the benefit system and how the move onto Universal Credit will affect them. In our session we were joined by Marise Mackie, Contract Manager, from Pluss and Hazel Dales, Partnership & Integration Manager from Ingeus. They shared practical, on the ground examples of the work they’re doing to help people transform their lives as Universal Credit rolls out across the UK.
To find out how Policy in Practice’s software helps build financial resilience visit www.policyinpractice.co.uk/software, email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk or call 0330 088 9242.
Presentation by representatives from Milton Keynes Local Authority and MacIntyre regarding “On Track Forensic Support model”. The model supports people with complex behaviour move back to the community. Staff give different views on what works.
MacIntyre is a specialist service for people with learning disabilities or autism who have offended or are at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
Bonner Curriculum: Volunteer Recruitment for a Non-Profit Organization: Part ...Bonner Foundation
This presentation is part of the Volunteer Recruitment for a Non-Profit Organization: Part 2 – Outreach Strategies training, available from the Bonner Foundation on bonnernetwork.pbworks.com.
A common problem that exists within the civic engagement framework of most college campuses is that the same individuals accomplish a majority of the service work over time. This workshop is the second session of a three-part training that aims to give strategies and develop service leaders’ ability to recruit volunteers for local non-profit organizations. This second session focuses on analyzing the resources and connections that students have in a web of influence and developing a recruitment plan to fulfill the volunteer needs of the non-profit organization as determined in the previous session.
Cervical cancer kills 270,000 women each year — mainly women in the developing world and in the prime of their productive lives. But cervical cancer is preventable by screening asymptomatic women for precancerous cervical lesions and treating the lesions before they progress to invasive disease. In other words, those deaths are largely preventable. Studies suggest that even if a woman were screened for cervical cancer only once in her lifetime between the ages of 30 and 40, her risk of cancer would be reduced by 25-36%.
Free marketing plan sample of a non-profit African Refugee Development Center...www.marketingPlanMODE.com
Free marketing plan sample by marketing plan now: www.marketingplannow.com.
A plan for a non-profit organization; African Refugee Development Center (ARDC).
This workshop brought together, for the first time, the pioneers and the partner organisations of the Integrated Care and Support programme. It focused on building a learning community that will help develop, share and spread knowledge and solutions at scale and pace across the country.
More information: http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/news-events/events/integrated-care-and-support-pioneers-inaugural-workshop.aspx
More about the integrated care and support pioneers programme: http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/7862.aspx
This provides a summary overview of some of the areas of work we are leading in Hertfordshire to build a complex systems approach to mental health of children and young people
Presentation by Mel Pickup, Partnership Lead and Kieran Murphy, Partnership Clinical Lead, Cheshire & Merseyside Health & Care Partnership at the Clinical Academy Design Event on Tuesday 10 July , LACE Centre, Liverpool.
At the end of this 90 minute session patient/ family/ advisors/ champions as well as health providers/ leaders/ authorities will leave with at least one practical idea to apply to patient advisor training as a result of their increased understanding of:
Current training programs and models in use across Canada
Training needs of patient advisors at different system levels
Gaps in training needs and ideas on how to fill them
Available supporting resources and leading practices
People Helping People - Commissioning social action in practice workshop 2Nesta
This presentation was delivered at People Helping People - The future of public services - 3rd September 2014. For more information on the event visit http://www.nesta.org.uk/event/people-helping-people-future-public-services
A Collaborative Approach Towards Mental Wellbeing for Everyone - Amanda Jones
IPH, Open, Conference, Belfast, Northern, Ireland, Dublin, Titanic, October, 2014, Health Public
'Living Well' Conference 2013: Extending our Services: Reaching out from our ...PennyBrohnComms
The development of Penny Brohn Cancer Care's 'Living Well' services nationally.
Georgia Diebel, Head of Living Well Services (External), Penny Brohn Cancer Care
Trauma Outpatient Center is a comprehensive facility dedicated to addressing mental health challenges and providing medication-assisted treatment. We offer a diverse range of services aimed at assisting individuals in overcoming addiction, mental health disorders, and related obstacles. Our team consists of seasoned professionals who are both experienced and compassionate, committed to delivering the highest standard of care to our clients. By utilizing evidence-based treatment methods, we strive to help our clients achieve their goals and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where our clients can receive the highest quality of care. We are dedicated to assisting our clients in reaching their objectives and improving their overall well-being. We prioritize our clients' needs and individualize treatment plans to ensure they receive tailored care. Our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices proven effective in treating addiction and mental health disorders.
ALKAMAGIC PLAN 1350.pdf plan based of door to door delivery of alkaline water...rowala30
Alka magic plan 1350 -we deliver alkaline water at your door step and you can make handsome money by referral programme
we also help and provide systematic guideline to setup 1000 lph alkaline water plant
About this webinar: This talk will introduce what cancer rehabilitation is, where it fits into the cancer trajectory, and who can benefit from it. In addition, the current landscape of cancer rehabilitation in Canada will be discussed and the need for advocacy to increase access to this essential component of cancer care.
LGBTQ+ Adults: Unique Opportunities and Inclusive Approaches to CareVITASAuthor
This webinar helps clinicians understand the unique healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ community, primarily in relation to end-of-life care. Topics include social and cultural background and challenges, healthcare disparities, advanced care planning, and strategies for reaching the community and improving quality of care.
The dimensions of healthcare quality refer to various attributes or aspects that define the standard of healthcare services. These dimensions are used to evaluate, measure, and improve the quality of care provided to patients. A comprehensive understanding of these dimensions ensures that healthcare systems can address various aspects of patient care effectively and holistically. Dimensions of Healthcare Quality and Performance of care include the following; Appropriateness, Availability, Competence, Continuity, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Efficacy, Prevention, Respect and Care, Safety as well as Timeliness.
Veterinary Diagnostics Market PPT 2024: Size, Growth, Demand and Forecast til...IMARC Group
The global veterinary diagnostics market size reached US$ 6.6 Billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 12.6 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% during 2024-2032.
More Info:- https://www.imarcgroup.com/veterinary-diagnostics-market
ICH Guidelines for Pharmacovigilance.pdfNEHA GUPTA
The "ICH Guidelines for Pharmacovigilance" PDF provides a comprehensive overview of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines related to pharmacovigilance. These guidelines aim to ensure that drugs are safe and effective for patients by monitoring and assessing adverse effects, ensuring proper reporting systems, and improving risk management practices. The document is essential for professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory authorities, and healthcare providers, offering detailed procedures and standards for pharmacovigilance activities to enhance drug safety and protect public health.
CHAPTER 1 SEMESTER V PREVENTIVE-PEDIATRICS.pdfSachin Sharma
This content provides an overview of preventive pediatrics. It defines preventive pediatrics as preventing disease and promoting children's physical, mental, and social well-being to achieve positive health. It discusses antenatal, postnatal, and social preventive pediatrics. It also covers various child health programs like immunization, breastfeeding, ICDS, and the roles of organizations like WHO, UNICEF, and nurses in preventive pediatrics.
Feeding plate for a newborn with Cleft Palate.pptxSatvikaPrasad
A feeding plate is a prosthetic device used for newborns with a cleft palate to assist in feeding and improve nutrition intake. From a prosthodontic perspective, this plate acts as a barrier between the oral and nasal cavities, facilitating effective sucking and swallowing by providing a more normal anatomical structure. It helps to prevent milk from entering the nasal passage, thereby reducing the risk of aspiration and enhancing the infant's ability to feed efficiently. The feeding plate also aids in the development of the oral muscles and can contribute to better growth and weight gain. Its custom fabrication and proper fitting by a prosthodontist are crucial for ensuring comfort and functionality, as well as for minimizing potential complications. Early intervention with a feeding plate can significantly improve the quality of life for both the infant and the parents.
International Cancer Survivors Day is celebrated during June, placing the spotlight not only on cancer survivors, but also their caregivers.
CANSA has compiled a list of tips and guidelines of support:
https://cansa.org.za/who-cares-for-cancer-patients-caregivers/
Deep Leg Vein Thrombosis (DVT): Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Mor...The Lifesciences Magazine
Deep Leg Vein Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the legs. These clots can impede blood flow, leading to severe complications.
Cold Sores: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention Strategies | The Lifesciences ...The Lifesciences Magazine
Cold Sores, medically known as herpes labialis, are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV-1 is primarily responsible for cold sores, although HSV-2 can also contribute in some cases.
Under Pressure : Kenneth Kruk's StrategyKenneth Kruk
Kenneth Kruk's story of transforming challenges into opportunities by leading successful medical record transitions and bridging scientific knowledge gaps during COVID-19.
2. Overview
The affiliation programme is a
network of more than 40 community
based cancer support centres and
services that have come together
under the umbrella of the Irish
Cancer Society.
3. Aim of the project
• Improve the quality of life and psychosocial well-
being of people in Ireland who have or who have
been affected by cancer directly or indirectly.
• Heighten awareness of the efficacy of psycho-
social support for people affected by cancer.
• Broaden access to and utilisation of psycho-social
support services across Irish society.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. • Training
• Grants
• Networking
• National statistics and trends
• Meaningful Evaluation
11. Conditions for Affiliation
• CHY number
• Policies on confidentiality, data protection and
complaints
• Signed up to the Governance Code & Guiding
Principles of Fundraising
• Have a clear mission and vision/values statement
• Have a strategic plan/ plan of activity/business
plan
12. • Attend a minimum of two affiliates’ meetings per
year and the National Conference for Cancer
Survivorship
• Show that volunteers & staff are
trained/qualified for their roles
• Be able to send and receive emails
15. THE BACKGROUND STORY….
2008 The story began
2009 The house was purchased
Sept 3rd 2010 we opened our doors, initially
for 2 days a week
Currently we are open Monday-Thursday in
Tralee and we have an outreach service in
Killarney 2 days a month.
16.
17. It is the Mission Statement of
Recovery Haven to deliver
caring and therapeutic
services to those who have
experienced cancer, their
families and carers, in a
tranquil and relaxing
environment and to the highest
standards
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK?
Currently we have staff of 1.75
WTE (Manager/Nurse and
administer)
Over 100 volunteers (listeners,
complementary therapists,
gardeners, cleaners,
fundraisers, board of Directors)
Professional counsellors and
group facilitators
CE Scheme reception staff.
Grant from ICS for Counselling
services
No other state funding!
26. WHAT ARE OUR OBLIGATIONS?
Most importantly to our service users to ensure we provide a high
standard of supportive care, our volunteers that we provide a safe
environment & our community that we are delivering the best
service in the most appropriate and cost effective way.
We train all our volunteers listeners within our service and through
the ICS and other bodies
We offer training and on-going support to our complementary
therapists and all volunteers.
Supervision to our counsellors and group facilitators
Affiliation requirements to the ICS
Charities Act 2009 which leads to conforming with requirements of
Charity regulator, Companies Registration Office and Revenue.
National Volunteers guidelines including recruiting, interviewing and
Garda vetting of all volunteers
Children First
Health and Safety
HSE & local government requirements (fire safety, disability etc)
28. BEFORE AFFILIATION….
‘Paddling your own canoe’
‘No yardstick to measure your centre against’
DURING AFFILIATION.....
‘Suspicion initially, what would we lose’
‘Worried that the I.C.S. would come in and
take over what we had’
‘Glad we had the courage to move with it’
29. WHAT HAS THE AFFILIATION PROGRAMME
BROUGHT TO RECOVERY HAVEN
Personally you can be isolated in your role
within a voluntary/ charity sector so having
support is vital
In today’s world policies and procedures are the
framework for your organisation
Advance Standards within cancer support
services
Communication
Public Confidence
The power of collective collaboration
Provides a base and focus
30. DRAWBACKS….
Paperwork
Good ideas and progress may appear be
hampered within the system.
Some worry about losing what is unique to
each centre.
Confusion between us and the ICS. When
Society events are run locally the
communities often think the support centre
get the funds.
34. Psychology of Affiliation
• Guidance and support
• Shared learning through experience
• Strength in unity
• Knowing the anchor of good practice
• Move from the individual to the collective
• A sense of belonging
35. Technical Steps to Affiliation
Concept
• Affiliation as a concept
• Affiliation as a process
Design
• Research
• Consultation
• Resources, e.g. Guidelines, quality standard, manuals, workshop
Implementation
• Communication
• Training Programme
• On going consultation and refinement
36. Learning..if we were starting over
• Tune into and encourage expectations
• Enliven early engagement
• Work from a point of appreciation and
positive energy
• Create a groundswell
• Communication – constant flow
• Allow time to work its magic
Editor's Notes
In 2006 the National Cancer Forum published A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland. This strategy made a number of observations and recommendations about how to improve cancer services in Ireland. It discussed things like diagnostics and treatment and also the psycho-social care of cancer patients. The strategy observed that the vast majority of the work being done in the field of psycho-social care was taking place in the voluntary sector where people in communities felt the need for a cancer support service and so created one. They also observed that the quality of service being provided depended on who was leading the organisation. They recommended that that Irish Cancer Society become the umbrella body for all these groups and services and develop a code of practice.
The Society was not actually in the business of providing community based cancer support and although we had relationships with many organisations around the country, we weren’t too sure how they would feel about the Society providing them with a code of practice. So we took an action research approach and we went out and asked them. We said, here is what the National Cancer Forum has said… what do you think about it? Is it a good idea? And if so, what should it look like?
Overwhelmingly, people said that they thought it was a really good idea, particularly in the absence of legislation around counselling and complementary therapies.
What they wanted the Society to do was promote them. To medical professionals, to patients and their families and to the public at large. In principle this was something we were happy to do, however, we needed to agree on what exactly we would stand over…
So, we invited representation from every discipline we could think of to form a steering committee and came up with 4 guiding principles. They were – Equity, Governance, Service and Confidentiality. At this stage, it was agreed that every group that signed up to these four principles would be “Affiliated”. When they signed up we asked them how they were doing in these areas and they let us know where they have everything complete and available for review, the things they had in hand and the things they needed help with. We then set about drafting the guidelines.
We knew that the expertise was in the network, but there was a bit of concern about how we’d pull it all together and into a shape that made sense. So, we met with a few people and settled on a consultancy service called Eustace Patterson that had helped the Family Support Network develop their guidelines.
We then set about developing the guidelines. Anne and Ann put the framework together and then we workshopped the chapters all around the country. We met in Cork, Sligo and Dublin and invited everyone along and spent a full day going through the documents line by line and worked hard to get consensus on the content.
Once we got that right, we had the guidelines printed and sent them out to everyone… and then the phone started ringing. People were saying that they didn’t feel they were living up to the standards as well as they should or could. And what we needed was a training programme.
The first training that we developed was actually a programme called “Core Skills for Volunteering in a Cancer Support Centre”. It’s a basic training package that runs over four days and attempts to introduce the volunteer to as many of the elements of the work as possible. It has been really very successful and more than 400 people have completed this programme to date.
We also have introduced training in the areas of Governance and Management as well as specific Train the Trainer packages for programmes that the Society has piloted and rolled out.
In order to remove as many barriers to participation as possible, each organisation that is affiliated is awarded an annual grant for travel.
The Society then provides grants for proven programmes such as professional counselling, a physical activity programme, a psycho-educational programme for men with prostate cancer and for people who have been diagnosed with a secondary cancer.
We undertook an evaluation led by DCU School of Nursing near the end of the first programme of affiliation. We were able to see where the programme’s strengths were and also what we could improve on.
Around the same time, we were being advised that the new charities regulator was about to be appointed and there were some key areas that this office would be looking at which were covered by the governance code and the guiding principles of fundraising.
Recovery Haven was a long time in the making. When the breast cancer services were closed in Kerry and transferred to Cork, Marian Barnes (Breast Care Nurse) and a group of like minded people came together 2008-2009. A committee was formed, money was gathered and in 2009 the house which was previously Enable Ireland was purchased. Work began mainly using the Ballymacelligott Employment scheme and in Sept 2010 Recovery Haven opened its doors.
While the building works were going on the Board of Directors were very conscious that we would have policies and procedure documents guiding our work. Our listeners undertook a 22 hour training programme which is based on listening skills. Where possible they also do the core skills for volunteers with the ICS . Our founding document was our ‘Guiding Principles and policy and procedure document’
As the affiliation programme was in place RH used its guidelines for the beginning. The guides for cancer support services was an excellent platform from which to launch.
As well as the day to day drop-in support services.
With the affiliation process you sign up, commit and this is a positive driving force.
We have a duty of care to our service users and also our volunteers and staff.
Hello, I am Anne Eustace, one part of the partnership, Ann Clarke and Anne Eustace of Eustace Patterson Ltd.
Our role was technical support and facilitation of the affiliation support, working alongside Dorothy and the support services affiliated.
We brought independence and technical support to the ICS in the design, development, implementation and ongoing review and refinement of the Affiliation Process and its component parts.
My role here today is to share the learning with you of the technical aspects. This includes the psychology of affiliation, the learning from the process and the challenges encountered along the way.
The psychology of affiliation centres on the sense of value and belonging that we receive from sharing, learning and working together.
The affiliation process and programme offered and continues to offer Cancer Support Service:
A forum for networking and opening up of ideas
A safe space for sharing challenges and concerns
Over time and with the support from Dorothy and the refined programme of support and development affiliation offers:
Training programme – interactive learning through experience and sharing real life stories
Guidelines
Insights into good practice
Standards to work with
A shift from the individual (organisation) to a collective (national)
Within our role as technical support to Dorothy and the ICS, there are a number of sequential steps and building blocks. These commenced with the concept of affiliation, what is it and why bother – what is the draw?
Networks and affiliated structures are one natural way for separate and independent organisations to come together in some form of unison that allows them enjoy their independence alongside the benefits of belonging to greater structure.
In tune with good practice this ‘greater structure’ must offer guidance and stretch the organisations to grow and see beyond their current horizons. There must be appreciation, gravitas and benefits (known and unknown) from affiliation. In turn the greater structure must guard through set values, standards, protocols and procedures. The sum becomes greater than the parts.
The process of affiliation involves movement and growth and continuous refinement – this is at times organic and yet is also driven by pressures and requirements, international good practice, policy, politics, organisational expression, etc. The steps we engaged in were:
Desk research – tuning into current international best practice
Consultation – drafts, workshops, feedback, etc.
Design of resources – good practice guidelines, governance workshops, ethical workshops, interactive learning approach
Communication
Delivery of training programmes – across the regions – built around real life case stories and scenarios.