ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CONTENTS
WELCOME & REVIEW OUR PEOPLE
WHAT WE DO OUR PERFORMANCE
HOSPICE SERVICE GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURES
DISABILITY SERVICES OUR FINANCES
FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS OUR FUNDRAISING Our Hospice and Disability Services increased their reach and range of services this year meaning that, in addition to our adult residents, we cared for more children and supported more families
Niall McHugh Rachel Nolan than ever before. Service expansion included the Chairman Interm CEO introduction of our Autumn Leaves Program for parents and pre-schoolers and in hospital visits for hospice service users; plus a volunteer ‘Buddy Programme’, Scents of Reference’ communication programme and social activities programme for our disability service users. LauraLynn is committed to extending hospice WELCOME MESSAGE and palliative care services to more children who need them. Children as young as one-week old FROM THE CHAIRMAN are now accessing the service, whilst our cohort of pre-teens and teenagers has led us to begin development of a Transition Care Pathway to ensure AND INTERIM CEO delivery of palliative care extends seamlessly from our children’s service into adult services when a child reaches 18 years of age. We are delighted to introduce you to our 2017 2017 was a year of recognition of LauraLynn and Annual Report and Financial Statements. As you the work we do. Our disability services received a will read in these pages, it was another fantastic very positive appraisal from our first unannounced year for LauraLynn, that saw continued growth, HIQA inspection, with particular recognition of our team’s knowledge of the residents’ needs recognition and change as well as many special and the level of comfort that residents displayed moments and achievements to reflect on. towards staff. We were honoured to receive special recognition service and at the same time welcome Kevin in the Charity Impact Awards (Community Impact and our incoming CEO, Orla O’Brien, who will and Trustee categories), Irish Healthcare Awards be assuming her post in April 2018. (Excellence in Healthcare Management category) 2018 will be another busy year for LauraLynn and to pick up a winning Repak Pakman Award as we develop our next Strategic Plan. for our battery recycling partnership with WEEE More children and families require our services Ireland. Our representation at national and and this increased demand will bring additional international healthcare meetings was strong challenges for funding and recruiting expert too with 7 LauraLynn poster presentations at staff. A concerted and collaborative effort will be the 3rd International Children’s Palliative Care required to progress the children’s palliative care conference in Farmleigh in November. agenda and we are looking forward to playing Our hospice is hugely dependent on fundraised a leading role in this work. income to cover operational costs and despite the Lastly, we would like to thank and pay tribute economic lift, this year was very challenging as we to our donors, funders, supporters, volunteers, strived to reach our target of €3.5m. Trust in the management team and staff who work so hard to charity sector has been damaged in recent years change lives every day. We feel sure that with your and we would like to pay tribute to our generous continued assistance, LauraLynn is well placed to supporters and reassure them of our commitment meet the challenges ahead and deliver more and to being open and transparent about how we raise better services to the children and families who and spend our money. need us…helping us to achieve our vision, that Following three years of exceptional leadership ‘all children who need us can access us’. we bid a fond farewell to CEO Sharon Morrow this year and to Head of Finance Mike Higgins, who also stepped down as Company Secretary. Board Member Mary Ainscough resigned her position and was replaced by Kevin Keating. We would Niall McHugh Rachel Nolan like to thank them all for their dedication and Chairperson Interim CEO OUR VISION All children who need us can access us OUR MISSION To provide the highest level of children’s palliative and disability residential and respite service to the children and adults in our care OUR VALUES Family Life Care WHAT WE DO
OUR VALUES LIFE • We believe in putting life into a child’s day, not days into a child’s life. • Making the most of short and precious lives, celebrating and creating memories to last a life-time. FAMILY • Every Moment Counts • Children’s palliative care is a rollercoaster journey for families. CARE Learning that your child has • Children and families are a condition with no cure in safe hands. is devastating. • We care for children with • It’s a time when families need life-limiting conditions by care, support and information providing planned short break so that they don’t feel isolated. stays, step-down, crisis, home support and end-of-life care. • We aim to keep families together and allow them to be “Mums and • We are deeply committed to Dads” (not nurse, doctor, carer). each child and family as a whole. As their needs change, we provide tailored, expert care in a home from home setting or in their family home. WHAT WE DO
SOME PEOPLE WHO HELP MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE
TRUSTEES DIRECTORS INTERIM CEO David Andrews Niall McHugh Rachel Nolan (Chairman) Niall McHugh COMPANY David Andrews Michael O’Donoghue SECRETARY Frances Fletcher Nicholas Quigley Kerry McLaverty Kevin Keating Angie Kinane Denise McDonald Michael O’Donoghue Ann O’Driscoll Tony McPoland Nicholas Quigley OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
Jane McKenna LauraLynn House Introduced centralised starts fundraising opens - a purpose Sláinte Healthcare Vitro to build a children’s built children’s computer system hospice palliative care unit
Short term convalescence Jane McKenna Clinical Education Hospice Service held its for children with rickets merges fundraising & Research Department first Education & Open Day at Children’s Sunshine efforts with CSH set up to lead the way in for healthcare professionals Home (CSH) Children’s Palliative Care to improve referral pathway.
1925 1970’s 2001 2005 2006 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Long term residential Hazel House opens LauraLynn@HOME care of profoundly to extend respite pilot programme disabled children care services commenced
CSH Hospice Project Children’s Sunshine begins raising funds Home & LauraLynn House rebrand as Disability Service for a paediatric achieves HIQA palliative care unit LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice registration
WHAT WE DO
LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice was formed in 2011 following the merging of the long standing Children’s Sunshine Home and the LauraLynn Foundation, and now comprises LauraLynn Hospice Service and LauraLynn Disability Services. All services are run from our main campus in Leopardstown, Dublin 18
Our Hospice Service provides specialised While our Disability Services are funded by palliative care to children with life-limiting the Health Services Executive (HSE) through conditions and support to their whole family. a Section 38 Provider Grant, our Hospice Service We also offers a range of bereavement care, is mainly funded through fundraised income supports and events. and private donations, supplemented with some statutory funding. Our Disability Services comprises Willow View – a residential care service that is home to LauraLynn is a learning organisation with seven adults with complex disabilities - and a volunteer ethos, with highly trained Hazel House - a residential and respite care volunteers supporting staff in all aspects service for children with complex disabilities. of the organisation’s work. HOSPICE SERVICE
Children in Ireland living with a THE IMPACT OF life-limiting LIFE-LIMITING condition CONDITIONS 3,840
Approximately 350 50% children with a have palliative life-limiting condition care needs die each year
720 Up to 1 in 5 in need of specialised 30,000+ hospice care Parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends are impacted. WHAT IS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE CARE?
Children’s hospice services provide interdisciplinary care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The aim of these services is to meet the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the child and family through a variety of services, including but not limited to:
b Support for the entire family b Provision of information, (including parents, siblings, support, education and grandparents and extended family) training to carers b Specialist short break care b Bereavement support b Practical help, advice and b 24-hour telephone support information b 24-hour access to emergency care b Provision of specialist therapies, b 24-hour end-of-life care including physiotherapy, play and music therapy 6 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CHILDREN’S HOSPICES
1 3 5 CHILDREN’S HOSPICES ARE WHERE MOST CHILDREN IN HOSPICES WORKING IN A HOSPICE CHILDREN GO TO DIE HAVE CANCER IS NOT REWARDING Although some children come to LauraLynn in On average, about 7% of the children who attend It’s a privilege to meet the amazing children who their final days or weeks, there are many more LauraLynn have cancer. Other life-limiting or need our care—we call them superheroes—and who are known to us over many years as their threatening illnesses include heart conditions, get to know them and their families. They are life-limiting condition progresses. Children with neurological degenerative illnesses such as going through the most difficult experiences a life-limiting condition and palliative care needs muscular dystrophy, all sorts of unusual genetic you can imagine and being able to help them can be referred to LauraLynn at any stage from diseases and metabolic problems. The range of through those times is hugely rewarding for staff their diagnosis. problems is much wider than those encountered throughout the organisation. in the adult hospice world. 2 THEY ARE SAD, DEPRESSING 4 PLACES TO WORK SUPPORT FROM CHILDREN’S HOSPICES On walking into LauraLynn, people frequently DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE FAMILY say it’s not at all how they imagined it would At LauraLynn we understand that the whole be. In fact, it’s a bright and fun place, filled with family is affected when a child has a life-limiting laughter, magical experiences and activities going condition and that the whole family needs care on. There can be very sad and difficult times but and support. We provide a range of support a large part of what we do is helping families services to help them throughout the course of make the most of every moment together, and the child’s condition and in bereavement. These creating lasting memories. supports are offered to the entire family, giving extra consideration to parents, siblings and close extended family members like grandparents.
HOSPICE SERVICE
WHAT WE DO Caring for a child with a life-limiting condition, impacts the whole household, so it is vital that there is individualised care and support on hand for the whole family unit. Our Hospice Service focusses on enhancing quality of life, which includes physical comfort and wellbeing, as well as the emotional, social and spiritual aspects of care of the family; supporting them through the course of the condition, from the point of diagnosis to crisis and end-of-life care and through bereavement. HOSPICE SERVICE
We offer a range of nursing, medical, emotional and practical care in the optimum location for each child and family – in the family home, in our hospice SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT or in the community. All our care is provided free to families. These include: Families may need support to manage changing symptoms, improving the quality of life for the child and family.
SHORT BREAKS FAMILY SUPPORT Planned short breaks for the child and We offer family support programmes that allow family can range from a couple of hours in families to be together as a family unit, to have fun the family home to several nights stay at together, to meet other families in similar circumstances, LauraLynn House. Unplanned short break and support them along their journey. stays provide immediate placement Supports available to families include: for children in the event of an BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Clinical Psychology; Chaplaincy; Social Work; emergency within Physiotherapy; Occupational Therapy; We assist families in their experience of loss a family. Music Therapy & Play Therapy; during a child’s life; beginning at the point END-OF-LIFE CARE Therapeutic Family Work and of acceptance to LauraLynn’s service, throughout the course of their condition, Is offered in the final days and weeks of Family Camps. around the time of the child’s death, and a child’s life to provide maximum physical in the weeks, months, and years that comfort through pain and symptom follow. There are services to management. Additionally, we offer support the entire family. psychological, social, spiritual and bereavement support for the entire family during and after the child’s death. HOSPICE SERVICE
Demand for our Hospice Service this year was the highest it’s ever been, with more children and families from across the Republic of Ireland availing of our expanded range of specialised care options…
ATTEND HOSPICE
RECEIVE LL@HOME
2017 REFERRALS HOSPICE SERVICE
WHO WE SUPPORT – AT A GLANCE
TOTAL FAMILIES 2016 AVAILING OF BEREAVEMENT 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECEIVING HOSPICE SUPPORT 61 CARE 176 2017 2016 TOTAL FAMILIES 70 AVAILING OF 153 OUR HOSPICE SERVICE SINCE 2017 2011 246 2016 342 214 “ LauraLynn is the rainbow in our cloud. A place full of magic, a place that helps us make dreams come true.” Sam, Isabella’s Mum AGE PROFILE OF HOSPICE SERVICE USERS
H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L P P P P
2017 22 20 11 59 5 54 10 43
0 to 1 2 to 5 6 to 10 10+
AGE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2016 12 17 11 42 14 52 11 42
H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L P P P P
2017 2016 Children accepted Children active Children accepted Children active To ta l 48 176 48 153 WHERE HOSPICE SERVICE USERS COME FROM
ULSTER 2017
Referrals Accepted 4
Active Families 12 2016
CONNACHT Referrals Accepted 2
2017 Active Families 7 Referrals Accepted 4
Active Families 9 2016
Referrals Accepted 3 LEINSTER Active Families 8 2017
Referrals Accepted 33
Active Families 130 2016
Referrals Accepted 34
MUNSTER Active Families 115 2017
Referrals Accepted 7
Active Families 25 2016 OTHER Referrals Accepted 9 2016 Active Families 21 Active Families 2 DEMAND FOR OUR HOSPICE SERVICES
We provided care to 15% more families in 2017 Four families have more than one child availing In recognition of the growing number of from last year with increases in both children of LauraLynn hospice care and 32 children have children in our service now in their late and families availing of hospice and palliative been attending the service for more than four teens, LauraLynn has identified the need care supports (176) and in families availing of years. LauraLynn currently has 43 children in our to develop a Transition Care Pathway and bereavement care and events (70). service between the ages of 10 and 17 years old, Programme to be initiated with each child up from 42 in 2016. One child celebrated their and family once they reach 12 years of We accepted 48 new children to the service this 18th Birthday this year and transitioned to adult age. Completion and implementation of year. Consultants (13%) and Nurses Outreach palliative care services. the pathway as part of our model of care Nurses (43%) continue to be most likely referrers will continue in 2018. to LauraLynn but this year was saw a significant Sadly, in 2017 there were 33 bereavements. increase in referrals from Hospital Nurses (16%). 24 of the children who passed away were aged 1 year or under and 19 were referred Families have an annual allocation of 15 nights in the same year. Approximately 50% (16) stay in our hospice as part of their individualised families were supported for end-of-life care in care plan. This year we saw an increase in the family home, with 25 families availing of demand for additional nights from families memory making at this time. requiring crisis care and step-down support following hospitalisation. A total of 1,286 short In total 28 brothers and sisters received stay nights were used by families, with 354 formal interventions to help them to adjust nights from outside families’ annual allocation. to the diagnosis or loss of their sibling. HOSPICE SERVICE
DEMAND FOR HOSPICE SERVICE — AT A GLANCE FAMILIES HAVE MORE CHILDREN ARE THAN 1 CHILD AVAILING OF AGED 10 TO 17 4 LAURALYNN HOSPICE SERVICE 43 YEARS OLD 4 + YEARS 43% 16%
CHILDREN HAVE BEEN AVAILING OF LAURALYNN HOSPICE SERVICE REFERRALS REFERRALS FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS COME FROM COME FROM 32 OUTREACH HOSPITAL NURSES NURSES
1 CHILD TURNED NUMBER OF COUNTIES 18 YEARS AND FAMILIES TRAVEL FROM TRANSITIONED 23 TO LAURALYNN TO ADULT SERVICES HOSPICE SERVICE
LauraLynn@HOME — AT A GLANCE
NUMBER OF NURSES PROVIDING CARE IN THE 4.5 FAMILY HOME OR HOSPITAL 899 HOME VSITS
FAMILIES AVAILED OF 113 50 MEMORY MAKING SUPPORT HOSPITAL VSITS BEREAVEMENT VISITS OF WHOM AVAILED AS PART DURING 2017 50% OF END-OF-LIFE CARE 37
CARE HOURS COMPLETED IN 2017 BY THE LAURALYNN@HOME TEAM 2,526 SOURCES OF ACCEPTED REFERRALS
3 CNS/Nurse 8
Outreach 20 Nurse 20
Public Health 3 Nurse 2
Paediatrician/ 7 Consultant 10
Parent/ 4 Family Member 2
Social 6 Worker 5
3 Other 0 2017 2016
Source Children accepted Children accepted Voluntary 2 Agency 1 To ta l 48 48 DIAGNOSTIC PROFILE OF HOSPICE SERVICE USERS
2017 2016
Diagnostic Categories Children accepted Children active Children accepted Children active
Circulatory 0 1 0 1
Congenital 9 41 5 39
Metabolic 5 17 8 20
Neurology 25 76 19 55
Oncology 6 13 5 6
Perinatal 2 12 6 23
Respiratory 0 2 0 2
Other 0 2 5 6
Unknown 1 3 0 1
To ta l 48 176 48 153 LENGTH OF TIME USING HOSPICE SERVICE
Children Active Prior to Child’s Death Length Using Service in 2017 in 2017
0-1 month 15 15
1-6 months 20 6
6 months–1 year 21 3
1-2 years 32 1
2-4 years 56 6
4-6 years 18 2
6+ years 14 0
To ta l 176 33
DISABILITY SERVICES
WHAT WE DO Using a social model of care approach, our goal LauraLynn’s Disability Services are registered is that the children, adolescents and adults in our with HIQA as a Designated Centre for Persons services receive care that: (Children and Adults) with Disabilities and are funded by the HSE under a Section 38 Provider Service Level Arrangement. IS PERSON CENTRED
FOSTERS Comprising Willow View, an adult residential FRIENDSHIP PROMOTES service, and Hazel House, a residential and respite & SOCIAL INDIVIDUALITY service for children and adolescents, we strive EXPERIENCES to provide a homely setting that promotes the CHILD/ privacy, dignity and safety of each child and ADOLESCENT/ adult. While we are no longer accepting ADULT admissions to our residential care programmes, we are committed to supporting the children ENABLES PROVIDES and adults in our care. HEALTH & SAFETY & DEVELOPMENT PROTECTION LISTENS & PROMOTES EQUAL RIGHTS DISABILITY SERVICES
KEY PRINCIPLES
This year we appointed an Activities & Recreation Co-ordinator, whose role is to work with the adults, SAFE SERVICE children, families and staff in our Disability Services. The aim is to provide a comprehensive EFFECTIVE HEALTH & programme of activities that support each child/ SERVICE DEVELOPMENT adult to fulfil their social, cultural, and recreational needs, develop and maintain personal relationships and links with the wider community. As a result IMPROVED of the new resource, we have a schedule of INDIVUALISED SERVICES & USE OF SUPPORTS SUPPORT FOR INFORMATION activities planned each week and increased & CARE engagement with our volunteer programme to PEOPLE support the children and adults in accessing a variety of occasions/events including concerts, LEADERSHIP, USE OF swimming, horse riding and outings to places GOVERNANCE & C RESOURCES like the Japanese Gardens, beach and stud farm A MANAGEMENT E P IC A RESPONSIVE V in Kildare. We have developed an Activities Room C R IT WORKFORCE E equipped with a variety of resources for the Y S & TY children and adults to use with staff, volunteers CA LI PA UA and families. BILI GH Q TY TO DELIVER HI
GUIDING PRINCIPLES Our disability care is based on HIQA’s 9 Key Principles which guide us on how best to provide a safe and effective care to children and young people with disabilities. DISABILITY SERVICES
CHILDREN’S DISABILITY SERVICE Hazel House provides residential care to three Each respite stay is planned to ensure the child children plus respite care/crisis care to children has a positive, enjoyable experience packed with and adolescents with profound learning difficulties, fun activities and excursions. Examples of these accompanied by physical disabilities, complex were: horse riding, meeting Bosco, Easter Camp, medical and healthcare needs and who may have going bowling, visiting Imaginosity, excursions additional sensory impairments. In total Hazel to Dundrum and St. Stephen’s Green on the Luas, House has a maximum occupancy of seven walks in Dun Laoghaire, Bray, and Powerscourt. children at any time. 17 trained volunteers support the team in Our respite service grew this year to 31 children Hazel House in delivering a fun and interactive and families, up from 27 families in 2016. programme of activities such as sensory Families received an allocation of, on average, storytelling and play. 24 nights respite (no change since 2016). On average the children attending Hazel House have been receiving our service for 9 years and 4 months. DISABILITY SERVICES
Hazel House 31 Families avail 17 of Hazel House Trained Volunteers support service provision 3 Children are residents 24 nights Average respite allocation years months 9 4 per child Average length of service use PARENT PROFILE
BRIAN NOLAN DAD TO ETHAN, AGE 11 Ethan was born in 2007 through an emergency Following our time in Crumlin, we tried to focus on The most important thing for me as a parent is to c-section and like every new parent, the first two the present and do the best we could for Ethan. see my children happy. At LauraLynn the staff are months with Ethan were bliss, filled with giggles We had never heard of LauraLynn or were aware of exceptional and I know Ethan has a ball. Everyone and cuddles, wrapped up in a baby bubble. the work that they do until we were recommended gets involved in having fun with the children and However it was shortly after the two-month mark through a connection in the Jack & Jill Foundation. I know from the moment I drop Ethan off to when that we began to see a change. Ethan was having This is where things changed. We visited Hazel I see him when I collect him, that he’s happy and trouble feeding and became easily irritated. House in LauraLynn with Ethan to view the facilities that’s all that matters to me! After visiting our GP to try find the cause of Ethan’s and meet the staff and from that initial encounter problems, he was diagnosed with colic, yet we felt we knew LauraLynn was a very special place. this diagnosis didn’t fit Ethan and we continued For me and my family Hazel House is a lifeline. searching for answers. Our doctor sent us to Ultimately without Hazel House, we as a family Crumlin where a multitude of tests were completed. would receive no respite care for Ethan. Having the It was here that we discovered the truth about support of the disability services at Hazel House in Ethan’s condition and how his life would change LauraLynn allows us to function as a normal family from what we currently knew. While pregnant, and it is not only a godsend for the children Ethan’s mum had contracted the CMV virus, which who stay there but also for the other siblings. led to the calcification of Ethan’s brain. This meant While Ethan is in Hazel House we are safe in the that Ethan was born with cerebral palsy, is deaf in knowledge he is having fun and has his every need one ear and has further complications. We spent cared for which gives us, as parents, the chance to two and a half months in Crumlin with Ethan, relax and spend some time with the other children, coming to terms with what this meant. taking part in everyday activities we can’t regularly do. It also allows us to devote our time to our two other children and allow them the time to be children themselves without distraction. DISABILITY SERVICES
ADULT DISABILITY SERVICE Willow View is home to seven adults – three men This year we introduced ‘Scents of Reference’ and four women - with severe to profound as a communication aid for use by our adults intellectual and physical disabilities, providing with visual impairments who respond better to the high level of support they need when they sensory stimulus. The initiative has been need it. The average length of residency successful in promoting greater autonomy in Willow View is 24 years, with three residents by assisting the residents in navigating their living here for over 34 years. home environment by creating different smell associations with each room. We strive to ensure that Willow View provides all the security, stimulation, comfort and choice that As all our adults attend a day service during one expects to have at home, whilst also offering the week, most activities and outings are communal activities and events for our residents planned for the weekend. These include; and their families to enjoy. 12 trained volunteers shopping outings, day trips to the seaside, support the team in Willow View with our activities eating lunch/dinner out, walks in the park programme, including companionship visits, and the sensory garden, cinema, bowling, reading and music sessions. And this year saw getting takeaways, attending gigs and the successful introduction of a Volunteer concerts and many more fun-filled ‘Buddy Programme’, matching volunteers activities. with a resident of the service with the goal of increasing engagement and socialisation. DISABILITY SERVICES
Willow View 7 Adult residents 12 in Willow View Trained Volunteers support service provision 3 Male 4 residents + Female 3 residents Service users 34 24 resident years 34+ years Average length of residency FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS
Some very special visitors popped in this year, Families enjoyed even more opportunities to Children’s Hospice Week – more than 30 Families making many picture-perfect moments for our enjoy precious time together at new family participated in our awareness raising and families. These included regular favourites like support services. Highlights included the outside broadcast event, with many more enjoying Bosco, The Speks, Santa and the cast of ‘Once’, as introduction of a five-week Autumn Leaves events and activities during the week. In addition well as Her Royal Highness Princess Takamado Programme for pre-school children (aged 0-4yrs) to meeting our TV3 Champions Alan Hughes, of Japan, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Ireland Football to help parents adapt music and sensory play to Elaine Crowley, Anna Daly, Karen Koster, Manager Martin O’Neill, Miss Ireland and ‘Joshua suit their child. Deric O’hArtagain and Muireann O’Connell, our Tree: New Roots’ artists Fangclub, Kodaline with families were delighted to receive the support of The adults and children using our Disability Tracy Clifford and the 2FM Roadcaster some special friends including Jenny McCarthy, Services and their families enjoyed a range of Norah Casey, Shane Byrne, Isaac Boss, Fiona celebrations, activities and excursions organised Coughlan, Baz Ashmawy, Deirdre O’Kane, Dustin, by our new Activities & Recreation Coordinator. Bosco, Catherine Leydon, Ali Canavan, Rory Highlights this year included: Spring Week, scouts Cowan, Lucy Kennedy, Darren Kennedy, Glen & bonfire night, Sports Day, summer camp and Ronan, Neil Lennon, Martin King, Twink, Jennifer Halloween Party. Zamperelli and I Heart Disney All Stars. FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS
For the second year, we held our annual Our dedicated Family Engagement Committee Our First Annual Memorial Walk was held in Family Fun Day and Christmas Party off site representing families, carers and guardians of the Phoenix Park in September with 56 people in The Pavilion, Leopardstown Racecourse. LauraLynn continued their invaluable work this attending - including parents, siblings, In total, 228 attended our ‘Under the Sea’ year meeting six times and providing feedback grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins from themed summer fun day while, more than 200 and insight to the Board and Management to 13 families – in memory of their deceased child. children attended our Family Christmas party inform service innovation, process improvements After the beautiful 2.5k walk, the families enjoyed to visit Santa and Mrs Claus in our purpose-built and design changes. a picnic and ice creams together. grotto; receiving the welcome news that they Light Up LauraLynn was a spectacular occasion were present on his ‘Good’ list. The adults celebrated with families and guests catching up with our their summer party with a country and western great supporter Ray Darcy and enjoying festive themed extravaganza and hosted their Christmas treats, carolling, firework display and a special party in Willow View for their families and friends. surprise performance from Hozier. Ray was joined by members of the Kielt family to perform the tree lighting ceremony. FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS
CHRISTMAS AT LAURALYNN OUR PEOPLE
During 2017 the team in LauraLynn grew to 276 people BY YEAR END, (269 in 2016), comprising 128 members of staff (122 in 2016) WE HAD RECRUITED and 148 volunteers (144 in 2016). There continues to be a 30 NEW STAFF national shortage of children’s nurses and staffing in LauraLynn, like all other healthcare organisations, has fluctuated this year. Despite our new recruitment/retention initiatives Employees at LauraLynn receive training from in 2016—values based recruitment and parent a range of providers. All are complementary to representatives on interview panels—our staff each other and give employees the skills they 20 turnover this year was 19%, a slight increase from need to provide high quality care. Our employees OF WHICH WERE NURSING STAFF. 18% in 2016. This compares to 12.82% turnover of are really engaged with our training programmes companies in the Dublin region who are similar in and see the value in continuing training. company size and financial turnover. Mandatory training is absolutely essential for NEW RECRUITS our employees and the services we provide INTO THE Innovation, learning and development continue to 6 We ran 72 mandatory classroom based training DISABILITY be a pillar for driving excellence in care and service SERVICES. sessions in 2017. We also introduced E-learning development. In addition to providing traditional programmes for Food Handling and Child formal courses to staff and volunteers, this year Protection training. Our commitment to training we enabled individuals and teams to learn from and education is ongoing. In 2018 we hope their work through our new Schwartz Rounds, to introduce Performance Achievement Share and Learn sessions, and attending 24 training workshops. workshops, seminars and conferences. NEW RECRUITS INTO THE We ran 3 focused awareness weeks, Medication, HOSPICE Safeguarding and Bereavement. These all included SERVICES. formal and informal learning sessions with presentations from invited speakers and staff about key aspects of the topic. STAFF PROFILE
SARAH BRADFORD CARE COORDINATOR Sarah Bradford is a Care Coordinator / CNM1 in LauraLynn House and has been working here for four and a half years. Sarah chose to work at LauraLynn as she has a strong interest in and passion for children’s palliative care. Sarah says: “The most rewarding aspect of my role is feeling like I am making a difference to the lives of children with palliative care needs and their families. Soon after starting, I had my first experience of providing 1:1 end-of-life care. This is where I felt I had really made a difference, by ensuring the child was comfortable and also that the family were cared for, comfortable and had all their While working in children’s palliative questions answered”. care may not be for everyone, knowing Sarah believes that LauraLynn is a special place and you are helping bring happiness, fun and she is proud of the role she can play in supporting “ families and children, “LauraLynn is special as it is the comfort to those most in need make it only children’s hospice in Ireland. Unlike what people would normally think, LauraLynn is filled with colour, all worthwhile. To see a child smile makes fun, and lots of laughter. The staff, the children and this job the most rewarding job out there families make LauraLynn the magical place that it is”. At LauraLynn, families can access a range of supports and I love working at LauraLynn and with and services within the hospice in Dublin, in the home* each of the children. or hospital, depending on the child’s medical needs ” and family’s preference Sarah Bradford, Care Coordinator
*Available for families living within a two-hour journey from the LauraLynn hospice in Dublin 18. SCHWARTZ ROUNDS
Throughout the year, there were 9 Schwartz Rounds facilitated, with 27 staff sharing their stories and the themes included ‘All’s Well that ends well’ and ‘Putting Compassion to the Test’. This style of learning supports social learning where staff learn through narrative storytelling and reflection. Also, two of our Schwartz Team are mentors for other HSE sites that have adopted the Schwartz Rounds. LauraLynn won special recognition for implementing our Schwartz Rounds initiative in the Excellence in Healthcare Management Category at the Irish Healthcare Awards. ANNUAL STAFF SURVEY
In 2017 we issued our annual staff survey. We believe our staff surveys are crucial because they give employees a venue for open feedback. It is an opportunity to establish two-way communication and involve employees in the development process by giving them a direct voice to the management team. Being actively involved in the planning process demonstrates to employees that we appreciate their involvement in the service and that their opinions are valued. The information obtained from our staff surveys allows us to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in our service. OUR PEOPLE
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME THE PLAN FOR 2018 2017 was another successful year for the In recognition of their considerable contribution LauraLynn Volunteer Programme which continues to our work this year, volunteers Colm Quinn, • Continue recruitment drive to grow and develop. Volunteer training was Monica Byrne, Paula Falcao, Robin Keane and a priority for 2017 with 420 hours training Kevin Murphy were named LauraLynn Volunteers • New Wellness at Work completed by volunteers. Volunteers provide of the Year and nominated in the national Programme support to every department in LauraLynn across Volunteer of the Year competition. • New Performance 12 identified roles, including a new ‘Volunteer Management Process Buddy’ role which was introduced this year. and Training • Learning & Development Showcase Week
148
NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOLUNTEERS. 256 Corporate Volunteers 23 12 who further assisted Corporate Volunteering with fundraising, NUMBER OF events in 2017 events & activities (e.g. window decorating VOLUNTEER ROLES and cleaning, gardening and working at events) VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME 2017
6000 HOURS COMPLETED 26 New! APPLICATIONS 148 REGISTERED 112 420 HOURS TRAINING TOTAL COMPLETED ACTIVE 12 VOLUNTEER ROLES
GENDER BREAKDOWN 79% 21% VOLUNTEER BUDDIES 12RECRUITED & TRAINED AVERAGE 44 AGE
13% 256 CORPORATE 23 5,000 CORPORATE KILOMETERS ARE FROM VOLUNTEERS TRAVELLED OUTSIDE DUBLIN VOLUNTEERING EVENTS VOLUNTEER PROFILE
BRIAN LENNOX VOLUNTEER Brian Lennox has been volunteering at LauraLynn As a LauraLynn volunteer, Brian has helped out I am one of for over three years where he has helped across in a number of ways over the last three years. “ a variety of roles. As a retired man, Brian wanted As Activity Assistant Brian has helped each child in 140 volunteers at to get involved with something that would give our hospice to take part in daily activities, whether LauraLynn and we him a focus, however he was initially hesitant to that is arts and crafts, music classes or theatre volunteer at LauraLynn due to his perception of performances. Brian also helps out with weekly all play our part. what a children’s hospice would be, as he was vehicle checks, ambulance driving and most concerned he wouldn’t be able to manage the recently, he is undergoing training to use LifeLites, It’s very humbling environment. However as Brian says “The slogan a tech-savvy interactive project that will engage to be part of such a changed things for me – ‘At LauraLynn we make the children in a number of different ways. the most of short and precious lives’ – that’s what Brian hopes to pass this knowledge onto other positive community did it for me. Ever since I walked through those volunteers at LauraLynn. and help the doors on that first day, I realised my perception of a children’s hospice was all wrong. I couldn’t children and families have been more surprised to see the joy, fun, care and respect that is shown to each of the in any way we can.” children and families” Brian Lennox OUR PERFORMANCE
2017 marks the final year of our current strategic plan (2015-2017). Our work this year has driven us considerably further in achieving our four stated goals, helping to raise the bar in both the quality of care we provide and the breadth of our reach of delivering care.
STRATEGIC STRATEGIC STRATEGIC STRATEGIC GOAL 1 GOAL 2 GOAL 3 GOAL 4 To Pursue Excellence To Agree and Secure To Ensure an To Assist in the in Care Provision and an Appropriate Future Organisation-wide Development of a Service Delivery for the Funding Stream for Programme is in Place National Model of Children’s Palliative Children’s Palliative to Build and Develop Children’s Palliative Care Care and Disability Care the LauraLynn Team in Collaboration with Services our Stakeholders STRATEGIC GOAL 1
To Pursue Excellence in Care Provision and Service Delivery for the Children’s Palliative Care and Disability Services
In 2017: • As part of the development of our Model • In response to the unique needs of a growing of Hospice Care, we launched a new booklet – number of pre-teens and teenagers availing ‘Individualised Children’s Hospice Care’ - of LauraLynn, we initiated an interdisciplinary for healthcare professionals. It outlines the Transition Working Group this year. Their aim is elements of our hospice and palliative care to formulate a Transition Care Pathway based services and details our new referral process on best international practice that is culturally and holistic needs assessment and compatible in the Irish setting. Implementation individualised outcomes model. is set to commence in 2018. • The appointment of an Activities & Recreation • As part of our commitment to Quality, Safety Co-ordinator has further strengthened our and Risk Management, a total of 12 Health Disability Service responding to the needs & Safety Walkabouts took place. All aspects of our service users and HIQA requirements. of the service were visited by a senior executive It has resulted in further expansion of the and Board Member to learn about safety community engagement opportunities and issues that are of concern to staff and foster personal supports programme of our open communication, timely reporting and Disability Service Users. continuous feedback. STRATEGIC GOAL 2
To Agree and Secure an Appropriate Future Funding Stream for Children’s Palliative Care
In 2017: • In total we generated €3,509,173 through • Our Disability Services continued to be voluntary donations from the public, corporate funded by the Health Services Executive supporters, trusts and foundations. under a Section 38 Provider Service Level Arrangement, which also included some • Building on the success of 2016, we increased funding for our Hospice Service. our investment in individual giving including a Face2Face campaign that successfully • We continued to make progress with the recruited almost 2,000 regular, direct debit Department of Health on policy and funding donors; further diversifying of our donor base. for our Hospice Service and welcomed our inclusion in the Slaintecare Report, as well as its acknowledgement of the need for palliative and hospice care for children. STRATEGIC GOAL 3
To Ensure an Organisation-wide Programme is in Place to Build and Develop the LauraLynn Team
In 2017: • We evaluated how we plan our workforce in • With Volunteers playing an integral role order to meet the needs of our growing number in our care provision, we implemented a of families and adapted a commonly used comprehensive training programme this workforce planning method called the Telfort year to ensure Volunteers are equipped Model. This has improved our decision making sufficiently for the various roles and activities around cost-effective numbers and estimating they provide. In total 420 hours training was the size and skills mix of nursing teams. delivered to our Volunteers. Our strategic workforce planning aims to • Many staff received support and sponsorship improve the quality of care delivered to to complete external university programmes families using our service by ensuring that our i.e. Postgraduate Certificate & Diploma in future workforce has the right capacity and Children’s Palliative Care and Postgraduate skills, values and behaviours to meet families’ Diploma and M.Sc. in Bereavement. future needs. • We continued to promote learning and development opportunities for our staff and our professional colleagues We introduced Coaching for High Performance a training programme for all line managers to increase confidence, communication, and employee engagement to lead us to higher performing teams. STRATEGIC GOAL 4
To Assist in the Development of a National Model of Children’s Palliative Care in Collaboration with our Stakeholders
In 2017: • We significantly strengthened our links with • We held two “Working Together – Delivering Trinity College, University College Dublin Choices” Workshop and Open Days for and University College Galway by offering Professionals bringing together 50 people undergraduate and postgraduate clinical from 11 children’s services, including staff nursing placements in LauraLynn. These from the acute paediatric, neonatal and placements will provide valuable clinical disability services. In addition to learning exposure for future nurses. more about children’s hospice care and how it’s delivered here, attendees participated in • LauraLynn became a member of the NMPDU open discussion fora looking at the importance Nursing Practice Development Network of interagency work and developing links (CHO 6 & 7). This will enable the sharing of in the community. knowledge and the development of further collaboration with other services within the • We were an organising partner of the 3rd immediate healthcare area. International Children’s Palliative Care Conference again this year, where we had a total of 7 LauraLynn poster presentations on display. OUR FOCUS FOR 2018
The year ahead will see the launch of our new Strategic Plan (2018-2022) which will chart the direction of the organisation over the next five years as we strive to achieve greater financial sustainability for the service and progress our vision that all children who need our care can access it.
Our focus for 2018 will be:
b To enhance the dignity and b To maintain and develop a b To maximise awareness and b To work collaboratively lives of the children, adults and happy, motivated and expert funding to ensure our financial together and with the HSE, families using our services by workforce comprising staff sustainability and be recognised local care providers, other providing high-quality, safe and and volunteers. as a model of good governance. charities and like-minded effective family-centred services. private sector organisations to achieve our vision and mission.
STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The Children’s Sunshine Home (Disability Service) CSH Childcare Services (Hospice Service) was was founded in 1925 and its principal objective established in 2011 and LauraLynn House was set out in the Memorandum of Association is to opened in September of that year on the grounds provide care for sick children. Following a strategic of the Children’s Sunshine Home. It provides short review in 2002-2004 it was decided to address breaks, symptom management, end of life and the needs of children requiring palliative care and crisis care to children with life-limiting the Children’s Sunshine Home Hospice Project conditions and support to their whole family. was established to fundraise for a children’s Both The Children’s Sunshine Home and CSH hospice building. In 2006 it joined forces with Childcare Services are limited by guarantee The LauraLynn Foundation which had been and are registered charities operating under established by Jane and Brendan McKenna, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice. who also saw the need for respite and specialist care for children with life-limiting conditions following their own personal experience with the deaths of their two daughters, Laura and Lynn. GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
GOVERNANCE LauraLynn takes the commitment and trust of our LauraLynn is registered with the Charities Regula- Our policy is to welcome and encourage feedback donors, funders and the public very seriously and tory Authority and supports the implementation so that we can learn and inform continuous we honour it by providing clear and transparent of the Charities Act 2009. We are compliant with improvements in our services. We have robust information about how we raise our money, how our HSE Annual Compliance Statement and The systems in place to record and investigate critical we account for it and how we spend it. We also Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and feedback of the service that requires a response. welcome donor and supporter visits to see our Charitable Organisations. We are signed up to all LauraLynn is committed to insuring that children, work first hand. ICTR fundraising regulations and adhere to the adults, their families and members of the public data protection laws. We have achieved the are aware of their rights throughout the feedback Our voluntary Board of Directors and Trustees Standard of Recommended Practice (SORP) process. In 2017, 5 formal complaints were are ultimately responsible for our governance, for financial management which means that we received across our disability and hospice services. strategic direction, ethos and values. Additionally, operate to the triple lock standards of transparent All were dealt with in line with our policy and The Board are responsible for ensuring that the reporting, good fundraising and good governance. closed within the recommended timeframe. organisation operates an appropriate system of Any actions/improvements arising from these financial control and complies with relevant laws We are also fully compliant with the obligations complaints were implemented and no appeals and regulations. of the Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable against the outcomes was received. Adults) Act 2012 and have child protection policies and practices in place that are in line with Children First 2011. GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
PUBLIC BENEFIT LauraLynn is Ireland’s only Children’s Hospice. We provide palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. With a focus on enhancing quality of life, providing support from diagnosis, to end of life, and throughout bereavement with a range of practical, emotional and medical care for the whole family. LauraLynn Hospice takes a holistic approach to palliative care for children and young persons with life-limiting conditions and their families. Care is provided by our interdisciplinary team in partner- ship with other healthcare providers and specialists. It includes a range of services to meet the child and family needs – physical, emotional, social and spiritual. Additionally, there is a commitment to provide a ‘home’ for children and young adults with profound intellectual disabilities. We no longer accept new referrals for our adult residential care service, but we are committed to caring for those in our care and supporting them to realise their ambitions and have dignity in their lives. GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
OUR TRUSTEES OUR BOARD Our Trustees act as guardians of the Both the Children’s Sunshine Home and CSH The Board delegates the day-to-day management organisation’s assets and are entrusted with Childcare Services are governed by the same of the organisation to the Executive Management the land and buildings at Leopardstown Road non-executive Board of Directors, who are drawn Team, which comprises of the Chief Executive and where LauraLynn operates. The Trustees are from diverse backgrounds and possess a wide Executive management team. responsible for the cash, investments, donations, range of skills and experience. Each Director is The Board does not receive any remuneration in grants and overall spend and meets three times appointed for a period of three years having been respect of their services to the charity and no top a year. All Trustees are non-executive. recommended by the Nominations Committee up payments are made to LauraLynn employees. and is eligible for re-appointment for two further Our CEO’s salary is approximately €104k, and this consecutive three year periods (nine years in total). is fully in line with agreed HSE & Department of The Board meets at least six times each year and Health pay scales. None of the CEO’s salary is paid has responsibility for all the business of the from fundraising income; it is provided by the HSE organisation. as part of its allocation to LauraLynn as a Section The Board is supported by a Board committee 38 provider. There are no additional benefits, bonus structure which deals effectively with specific aspects or personal expenses paid to the CEO or other staff. of the business of the organisation. The Board The Trustees and Board of Directors each have committees in place are the Quality, Risk & Safety an annual work plan which ensures they have full Committee, Finance & Operations Committee, oversight of their governing responsibilities. Matters Financial Audit Committee, Nominations, Corporate such as strategy, policy, quality of care, clinical and Governance & Remunerations Committee, corporate governance, finance, investments, facili- Fundraising Committee, Research Ethics ties and risk are monitored and reviewed at regular Committee and Family Engagement Committee. meetings throughout the year. All new Board Members and Trustees are inducted into the organisation, receiving a Code of Conduct for Board Members Booklet with includes our Conflict of Interest Policy. Every Board Meeting commences with a request for expression of conflict of interest. GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
BOARD 1 FUNDRAISING Sub-Committee agree and 3 RESEARCH & ETHICS Sub-Committee action key elements of the organisation’s fundraising ensures that research is conducted according to best SUB-COMMITTEES & marketing strategy and meets at least three practice and maintains ethical standards of The Trustees and Board are times a year. In 2017 the Fundraising practice in research. It protects and preserves supported by a number of Sub-Committee met four times. the subjects’ rights and ensures that the practice Chairperson: David Andrews of fully informed consent is observed. It provides sub-committees, each chaired reassurance to the public and outside bodies by a Board Member. Members 2 FINANCE AND OPERATIONS Sub-Committee that high ethical standards are maintained. of the Executive Team attend in conjunction with the Board, is responsible for The Research & Ethics Sub-Committee meets the sub-committee meetings ensuring that the organisation is meeting its as required on receipt of applications. as required and report on operational and financial targets as determined Chairperson: Michael O’Donoghue their areas of expertise. by the Board; developing the overall plans and budgets for the various operational divisions that 4 QUALITY, RISK AND SAFETY Sub-Committee are represented at committee meetings; and oversees key aspects of the risk management ensuring the successful delivery of services and process to ensure that the organisation: adheres to special projects as allocated to budget holders policies and procedures governing care delivery; has by the Board. At least one member of the stringent procedures in place for the recruitment of Sub-Committee will have relevant accounting staff and volunteers; audits clinical practice to ensure or related financial experience and the compliance with our processes; oversees the work of sub-committee meets at least five times the Child Protection & Vulnerable Adult Team who a year. In 2017 the Fundraising Sub-Committee are dedicated to managing any reported issues and met eight times. implementation of our policies; and investigates and Chairperson: Nicholas Quigley resolves issues which arise from our Complaints, Compliments & Feedback Team. In 2017 the Quality, Risk and Safety Sub-Committee met six times. Chairperson: Ann O’Driscoll GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
5 FINANCIAL AUDIT Sub-Committee remit is to 6 NOMINATIONS, REMUNERATION 7 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT Sub-Committee was assist the Board in discharging its responsibility & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE established to provide an effective representative in ensuring the organisation adopts, maintains Sub-Committee monitors and reviews the body for families, guardians and carers to and applies appropriate and accurate accounting structure and composition of the Board. It deals communicate effectively with the Board of and financial reporting processes and procedures; with matters of Board succession, disciplinary Directors and our Staff. Having regard to the facilitating the independence of the external audit issues at a senior executive level of the organisation, best interests of children, young adults and process and addressing issues arising from the ensuring that remuneration for employees families in each strand of the organisation, this internal and external audit process; and ensuring is in keeping with the service’s Finance Sub-Committee develops communications from that the organisation maintains effective risk Management Policy and the requirements the Board of Directors and Staff to ‘Families’. management processes relating to the under HSE Compliance and good governance It aims to develop and foster communication organisation’s management of financial risks, and Corporate Governance on behalf of the within the ‘Family Groups’ and to articulate and prevention of corruption and waste and the Board. It consists of people who are experts put forward suggestions, issues, concerns etc. system of internal control. In 2017 the Financial in these areas, non-executive directors and for the improvement of the service in an open Audit Sub-Committee met twice. employees, and meets three times a year. and constructive forum. In 2017 the Family Chairperson: Tony McPoland Chairperson: Tony McPoland Engagement Sub-Committee met five times. Chairperson: Frances Fletcher GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
BOARD SUB-COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE ID A B C D E F G H I
Quality, Risk Research COMMITTEE Board Trustees Family Finance & Financial Fundraising Nominations, Engagement Operations Audit Remuneration & Safety & Ethics & Corporate Governance
NUMBER OF MEETINGS 6 4 5 8 2 4 3 6 meets depending on receipt of applications
Niall McHugh (Chairman) 6 4 3 A, B, G David Andrews 6 3 8 4 A, B, D, F Mary Ainscough Resigned 31st January 2017 0
Frances Fletcher 6 5 A, C Angie Kinane 5 4 3 A, F, G Michael O'Donoghue 5 4 0 A, B, I Ann O'Driscoll 5 6 A, H Denise McDonald 5 3 A, H Tony McPoland 6 2 3 A, E, G Nicholas Quigley 6 4 3 8 A, B, C, D Kevin Keating Appointed 31st January 2017 1/1 A COMPANY SECRETARY
Michael Higgins Resigned 21st November 2017 2/5
Kerry McLaverty Appointed 21st November 2017 1/1 GOVERNANCE & STRUCTURE
GOVERNANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STRUCTURE
RESEARCH & ETHICS QUALITY, NOMINATIONS, REMUNERATION RISK & SAFETY & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
FUNDRAISING FINANCE FINANCIAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT & OPERATIONS AUDIT COMMITTEE
EDUCATION RISK REVIEW CHILD & ADULT HEALTH & AUDIT & TRAINING COMMITTEE PROTECTION SAFETY / HCAI
NON CLINICAL & STATUTORY CLINICAL CLINICAL RISKS CLINICAL
COMPLIMENTS/ MANDATORY COMPLAINTS NON-CLINICAL NON-CLINICAL
PROFESSIONAL NURSING, NON-CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT CLINICAL PPPG’s ADVISORY GROUP
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT GROUP OUR FINANCIALS
LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s In 2017 our combined services (Hospice and In total, it cost €8,685,762 to operate Hospice is financed by our Disability) had an income of €8,041,831, this was LauraLynn, this was an increase of €204,184 Trustees and the Health Service €205,140 down from 2016. €4,112,867 of our on 2016 costs, largely as a result of our increased funding came from the state, including €3,681,161 investment this year in sustainable income Executive (HSE). The Trustees, under a Service Level Arrangement (SLA) with generation. The cost of the disability service was through general public the HSE for the provision of disability services. €3,884,010 and €4,801,752 was spent on donations, support the funding In 2016 the state funding was €4,619,454. the Hospice Service. of our Hospice Service, while The Grant from the Trustees in 2017 to support In addition to this, donors kindly gave us the HSE continues to fund our the Children’s Hospice increased by €333,598 €235,586 in gifts and services free of charge. to €3,612,885. Fundraising from the public Disability Service and provide LauraLynn is grateful to the HSE for funding the generated €3,509,173—up 4% on 2016. a little funding for the hospice. Disability Service and making a contribution to the Hospice Service. However, we are still very dependent on fundraised income for the day-to-day operations of the Hospice Service. OUR FINANCIALS
OUR FINANCIALS AT A GLANCE
€8,246,971 TOTAL FUNDING €8,041,831
€8,481,578 TOTAL EXPENDITURE €8,685,762
€3,370,791 TOTAL DONATIONS €3,509,173
€ million 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2016 2017 OUR FINANCIALS
HOW WE SPENT OUR MONEY
8 % 2% 11% 4%
2017 €7,191,348 €166,026 €932,888 €395,500 €8,685,762
GENERATING SUSTAINABLE INCOME SERVICE PROVISION GOVERNANCE TOTAL FUNDS GENERATION
2016 €7,389,203 €153,197 €741,010 €198,168 €8,481,578
2% 9% 2% 87%
EXCLUDES: Gifts-in-kind, depreciation and amortisation. OUR FINANCIALS
HOW WE SPENT OUR MONEY
83c SERVICE PROVISION FOR EVERY 11c GENERATING FUNDS €1 4c SUSTAINABLE INCOME GENERATION WE SPEND
2c GOVERNANCE
EXCLUDES: Gifts-in-kind, depreciation and amortisation. OUR FINANCIALS
HOW WE SPENT OUR MONEY: A DETAILED LOOK
52% 19% 1 % 11% 4% 1%
2017 €4,445,546 €1,677,906 €1,168,567 €932,888 €395,500 €64,955 €8,685,762
CLINICAL & ADMINISTRATION GOVERNANCE, OVERHEAD GENERATING SUSTAINABLE INCOME EDUCATION TOTAL NURSING CARE & SUPPORTS & MAINTANANCE FUNDS GENERATION & TRAINING
2016 €4,446,362 €1,728,675 €1,275,602 €741,010 €198,168 €91,762 €8,481,578
9% 2% 1% 5 % 20% 15%
EXCLUDES: Gifts-in-kind, depreciation and amortisation. OUR FUNDRAISING nk Tha You!
A MESSAGE TO OUR SUPPORTERS Thank you for understanding that in supporting LauraLynn, you are helping the families of some of Ireland’s sickest children, when they need it most. With you by our side, we have been able to continue providing families with home support, family and sibling support, end-of-life care, planned and unplanned breaks and crucially more time together as a family. OUR FUNDRAISING
Thanks to the continued generosity and goodwill already generated pledges and it is hoped that GOVERNANCE/TRANSPARENCY of our Ladies Appeals Committee, the public and with greater awareness of Legacy fundraising, As the new charity legislation and data business community, in 2017, we raised a total more supporters will consider leaving a bequest protection requirements become clearer, of €3,509,173 an increase of 4% on 2016. As a to a charity in their Will. we will continue to review and update our result, we were able to invest in the future of Corporate support is critical to our sustainability. policies and procedures to maintain our LauraLynn. During the year, almost 2,000 new In total, 765 companies supported LauraLynn, triple lock status and uphold the highest supporters joined our Community of Monthly with over €1.5 million donated and raised by standards of fundraising practice. Donors. This regular, monthly income—which now companies and their staff. This was a marked We are committed to adhering to our accounts for 7% of funds raised—allows us to plan increase from 529 companies, donating Donor Charter to ensure the best possible our service provision and is crucial to LauraLynn €1,343,657 in 2016. supporter experience. attaining our 2018 fundraising target of €4.2m, helping us fulfil our vision that ‘all children who Community fundraisers (schools, external events, need us can access us’. challenges & marathons) continue to be a very important part of our overall income generation, We also continued to grow the number of and though they declined in number a little this supporters we reached this year through our year they still raised close to €1 million for us! newsletters and fundraising appeals, sharing In total, 226 external events were run for us in the incredible impact their support is having. 2017 (240 in 2016) with one in three organised Our tax refunds from Revenue under the Charity outside Dublin. Tax Refund increased, reflecting the growing number of donors who are aware of the value Throughout 2018 and beyond, we hope to of donating a minimum of €250 annually continue to grow our supporterbase, making where they can. sure that the children and families who use the services of LauraLynn aren’t alone Legacy fundraising is a small but growing on their journey. fundraising area for LauraLynn. The new Online Will Making service offered to our supporters has OUR FUNDRAISING
FUNDRAISING INCOME
0% 77 9% 16 5% 4 1% 16 7% 16 % 4 1%
4 3.5 3
2.5
€ million 2 1.5 1 0.5
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 €1,613,197 €2,869,667 €3,343,366 €3,478,942 €2,898,979 €3,370,791 €3,509,173 OUR FUNDRAISING
FUNDRAISING INCOME
7% Challenges & Marathons €251,217
18% Community Fundraising €644,551
43% Corporate Support €1,521,112
24% Individual Donations €844,525
1% Legacies €16,313 WHERE OUR FUNDRAISED INCOME 2% Schools €63,068 COMES FROM
3% Trusts & Foundations €117,747
1% Major Gift €29,500
1% Courts €21,140
TOTAL €3,509,173 FUNDRAISER PROFILE
ALAN NELSON FUNDRAISER Alan Nelson is one of LauraLynn’s biggest I have organised three golf events in aid of advocates and proudest fundraisers and has been LauraLynn at Killeen Golf course and Carton House. working tirelessly over the last ten years to raise The events have been fantastic projects to be vital funds for our charity. involved with and I am delighted to be organising them for such a great cause. However the most Initially, Alan had never heard of LauraLynn significant thing about organising these event is and stumbled across us while he was making a just how much people want to help and the support delivery. It was at this time that Alan was brought they are willing to give in order to help LauraLynn. on a tour of the facility and he admits now, he was While I try do my bit, there are so many other instantly blown away. people, businesses and communities who come Alan says: “Within two minutes of walking through together to make them a success. There is nothing the doors of LauraLynn, I was blown away. The that can beat that feeling of running an event for level of care and attention each child was given LauraLynn – it’s the equivalent of scoring five goals was completely unexpected, the one-on-one care, in a final!” I couldn’t get over it. I knew straight away that I wanted to help in any way that I could.
2018
IN THE PAST 2008 ALAN HAS RAISED: €13,000 €13,650 2011 €28,000 OUR FUNDRAISING
In January our fundraising team took time out Our Face to Face donor recruitment campaign FUNDRAISING to celebrate International Thank You by making continued, gaining us almost 2,000 new monthly HIGHLIGHTS phone calls, sending cards, writing emails, posting direct debit donors, growing our base of videos and even delivering homemade scones sustainable annual funding to €241k in 2017. Without the support of to thank some of our wonderful fundraisers, Our Heroes Ball in the Intercontinental Hotel was supporters and volunteers. individuals, groups, schools, kindly hosted by our patron Miriam O’Callaghan companies and trusts, our For Children’s Hospice Week in May, the stars and attended by 420 friends and families of hospice would not be able to of TV3’s daytime programming – Alan Hughes, LauraLynn including, Alan Hughes, Norah Casey provide our vital care to the Elaine Crowley, Anna Daly, Karen Koster and and our special band Perfect Day. An incredible children and families who Muireann O’Connell – along with more than 30 of €76,000 was raised on the night (€67k in 2016) depend on us. In 2017, our families, raised huge awareness of and funds to support our little heroes and their families. we raised an extraordinary for our special hospice. The showcase event of the Special thanks to our ball sponsors DCC plc., week was the first Children’s Hospice Telethon and Marks & Spencer and Verve Live Agency, €3,509,173, an increase of a whopping €117,500 was raised in total. We are our event management sponsor. 4% on 2016, thanks to all hugely grateful to our media partners TV3 for their those who went the extra ongoing commitment and support and are looking mile to support our special forward to working together again next year. hospice. Here’s a snapshot of fundraising highlights from throughout the year. OUR FUNDRAISING
Our long-standing partnership with WEEE Community Fundraisers (schools, external events, In addition to the business community Ireland and brand ambassador Bosco, reached challenges & marathons) continue to be a very donating €1.5 million to LauraLynn this year, new heights this year. In addition to WEEE important part of our overall income generation, 256 Corporate Volunteers gave their time in Ireland’s cumulative donation since 2011 reaching and though they declined in number a little this support of 23 separate volunteering opportunities a staggering €285,000, we were delighted to be year they still raised close to €1 million! In total, both on-site and at our events; with even more recognised with a PAKMAN Award for Excellence 226 external events were run for us in 2017 with companies providing professional skills. in Waste Management & Recycling for our one in three organised outside Dublin. battery recycling initiative. As Bosco always tells the boys and girls “Every Moment Matters, Every Battery Counts!”
In October we partnered with Universal Music Ireland and 2FM to launch “The Joshua Tree: New Roots” album, featuring the pick of Irish music talent, in aid of LauraLynn. The album shot to No 1 in the Irish Charts gaining recognition by originators U2 and the public at large. Funds for the project will be received in 2018. Follow LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice Like Leopardstown Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18. Share T 01 289 3151 E [email protected] www.lauralynn.ie Charity Registration Number 20003289
Making the most of short and precious lives