Special Interest Group on Ageing SIGA, IASW.
Minutes
Date: September 14th , 2016. Venue: Primary Care Pearse St Chair: Aisling Coffey Secretary: Anette O’Callaghan
In attendance: Aisling Coffey (St Mary’s), Anette F. O’Callaghan (St. Columcille’s Hospital), Catherine O’Connor (student), Suzi O Kelly (PC), Cliona Beaumont (Mater), Joyce Doyle, (SJH), Eugene Mc Carthy (SW Solutions), Peter Ryan (Tallaght Hospital), Margaret Cagney (Retired), Mary Duffy (RHD), Fiachra McCabe (Leopardstown Park Hospital) John Brennan (retired), Garret Preston (Connolly), Darragh Bergin (St. James’s Hospital).
Agenda:
1. Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) - Role / Function / Benefits 2. IASW Special Interest Groups - Role / Function 3. Group members’ expectations of SIGA 4. What members are prepared to offer SIGA this term 5. SIGA vision, mission and objectives 6. Work-plan to achieve objectives 7. Election of SIGA committee 2016-2017 8. Update from John Brennan on NCPOP, Joint Research on HCPs, Home Care meeting, invitation to speak 9. Care Alliance – Home Care Provision in ROI 2008-2016: An Analysis – 20/09/16 1430- 1530 – launch of report followed by panel discussion 10. Thanks for SIGA for input into IASW Feedback on Implementation of Safeguarding Policy – please find IASW submission and response attached 11. Social Work Housing Action Group Minutes
i. Welcomes and Introductions
. Aisling welcomed all present, particularly new attendees and introductions given by all
1) Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) - Role / Function / Benefits . Role and function discussed and the IASW strategic plan referenced – see attached . Membership benefit sheet distributed to all attendees – see attached
2) IASW Special Interest Groups - Role / Function . Discussed the role of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as: 1) A group of social workers that work in a similar field (such as with older persons) or regional area (Southern Group) 2) Who wish to pursue the best interests of service users and 3) Promote the professional development of social work in that area
The SIGs highlight issues of importance for the IASW to address as the professional body representing professional social work in ROI
SIGs provide social workers with opportunities to / for: 1. Keep informed about developments in that field of SW 2. Represent the profession 3. Professional development - We spoke about active participation in the registrant’s professional body, where the registrant is able to detail their contribution, as being an example of a learning activity for which a registrant may claim CPD credits (CORU)
3) Group members’ expectations of SIGA The group spoke of the proactive positive initiatives SIGA has pursued recently including Tag a Talk, SIGA conference, meeting with Junior Minister, advocacy on issues affecting the profession Future expectations included:
. Influencing / advocacy at a macro level for better outcomes and service provision for service users
. Influencing for positive change within social work practice
. Using social work expertise to inform policy / preparing submissions
. Networking, information sharing and peer support
. Remaining up-to-date in terms of developments affecting the profession
. Space for reflective thinking and promotion of social work values
. Collaborating with other SIGs . To provide a voice of the older person
4) What members are prepared to offer SIGA this term . Time, collaboration and commitment
5) SIGA vision, mission and objectives
. We referenced the IASW vision mission and objectives – see strategic plan attached
5a) Vision: What would the future be like if SIGA was / continued to be successful?
Members spoke of the following issues to be incorporated in SIGA’s vision: . Striving to meet client needs . best practice . highest standards . advocacy . promotion of positive ageing / quality of life / health and welfare . supporting choice . promoting self-determination
? Suggested SIGA vision statement: Social workers engaging in the highest standards of professional practice with older persons, promoting positive ageing, supporting autonomy and self-determination and advocating for continuous improvement in service delivery.
5b) Mission: What is the purpose of SIGA? Members spoken of the mission including professional development and representing older persons’ needs
? Suggested SIGA mission statement SIGA seeks to enable the continuous professional development of social work practice with older persons and represent the needs of older persons from a social work perspective
5c) SIGA Objectives How will we pursue our mission to achieve our vision?
We agreed to set two key objectives for SIGA this term: 1) Advocacy / representation of the needs of older persons from a SW perspective 2) Professional development of SW Practice to examine opportunities for education and involvement in research
6) Work-plan to achieve objectives Not decided upon this meeting – to be discussed in November
7) Election of SIGA committee 2016-2017 We spoke of the need for vibrant enthusiastic social workers, who have a strong passion for their role and wish to influence its development in the field of ageing. The role of the committee is as follows: 1. Attend SIGA meetings 2. Communicate SIGAs message to other social workers working with older persons 3. Assist in the planning, delivery and review of SIGA events
4. Assist with researching, preparing and circulating SIGA representations / submissions on law. policy, service development, etc Election of 2016-2017 committee 1. Aisling Coffey, Chair – elected at AGM in July 2016. 2. Anette F. O’Callaghan, Vice chair 3. Fiacra McCabe, Secretary 4. John Brennan 5. Peter Ryan 6. Garret Preston 7. Darragh Bergin 8. Mary Duffy
In accordance with committee member interests we have divided the committee into two groups aligned with SIGA objectives for this term: 1) representation / advocacy and 2) professional development
1. Representation / advocacy: Darragh Bergin, Mary Duffy and John Brennan
2. Professional Development: Peter Ryan, Fiacra Mc Cabe and Garret Preston Aisling Coffey and Anette O Callaghan to be involved in both groups in their capacity as Chair and Vice-chair of SIGA
8) Report from John Brennan on NCPOP, Joint Research on HCPs, Home Care meeting, invitation to speak
National Clinical Programme for Older People (NCPOP) An Inter-professional Interest Group was formed in late 2015 within the NCPOP to bring together health and social care and other related professional representatives, e.g., pharmacy, to seek ways to best serve the functions and development of the NCPOP and to promote interdisciplinary knowledge, skills, best practice and dialogue. Latterly, the NCPOP has been working in tandem with the Integrated Care Programme. The final fit between these two programmes will be known shortly.
Joint Research Project on Home Care Packages IASW, Social Work Dept in UCD, Age Action and the Alzheimer Society are continuing to gather data on the HCP front. We are seeking support from social work departments in hospitals around the country to supply us with data. This data will be anonymised and used to keep the pressure on government and HSE to shift the focus of funding in favour of home care rather than residential care and to try and improve funding streams.
Data to include: . Total number of persons awaiting HCPs . Delays . Number of persons with a cognitive impairment awaiting a HCP . Approved and discharged
Information needed 1st week of the month from the week prior.
Anyone who wishes to provide information is welcome to contact John Brennan directly.
Home Care Aside from the above project, a group of Organisations (Active Ageing, Active Retirement, Age Action. Alone, Alzheimer Society, Care Alliance Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, MS Society and the Neurological Alliance of Ireland) have been working together recently to highlight the home care problems. Up to this, IASW has just been kept in the e-mail loop. They are due to hold a press conference in Buswell’s Hotel on the 27th September at 10.30am. IASW has been invited to participate in this event.
Invitation to Speak Home Care Provision in the Republic of Ireland - 2008- 2016 An Analysis Liam O’Sullivan, Executive Director, Care Alliance Ireland is to make a presentation on this topic on the 20th September 2016, followed by a panel discussion and questions from the floor (30 mins). Liam O’Sullivan has invited an IASW Rep to sit on this panel (30 mins discussion). Reps from The Irish Wheelchair Association and Home Care Plus (private agency?) will be on the panel. Venue is the Carmichael Centre, Dublin 7 at 2.30 -3.30pm.
9) Care Alliance – Home Care Provision in ROI 2008-2016: An Analysis – 20/09/16 1430-1530 – launch of report followed by panel discussion . As discussed by John Brennan above, SIGA members have been informed of this launch. . Invitation for one of us to be partaking in a panel discussion regarding HCP on behalf of IASW . After discussion, agreed that Aisling would represent IASW in this capacity . Any points regarding HCP to be emailed to Aisling directly ahead of the meeting.
10) Thanks for SIGA for input into IASW Feedback on Implementation of Safeguarding Policy – please find IASW submission and response attached . See attached
11) Social Work Housing Action Group . Information sheet given to members on meeting due to take place on 16/09/16 in Hail Housing, Dublin 1. 12) AOB: . Council links - the importance of SIGA having working alliances with our SIG colleagues in Primary Care, SWID, Head Medical Social Worker group and SWAMH emphasised by members. Aisling to work with these groups at bi-monthly IASW council meetings
. Single Assessment Tool - The SAT is currently being piloted in Beaumont Hospital.
Next SIGA Meeting:
Date: November 16th, 2016 Time: 2-4 pm Venue: Lecture Hall, St. Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin 20
Please forward proposed agenda items for discussion