clarecare.ie ANNUAL REPORT 2019 1 WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN IMPROVE EACH OTHER’S LIVES Clarecare Activities Community Volunteers Employment Scheme Homecare Research Project Drop in Centre Advocacy Thrift Shop Citizens Information Aftercare Family Support Social Worker Bushypark Older Person Room Rentals Over 65’s Club’s Counselling (Community) Homework Club (Day Care) Clarecare Annual Report 2019 1 2 Contents Clarecare Activities ......................................................................... 1 Chairperson’s Report ...................................................................... 4 CEO Statement ................................................................................. 5 Directors and other Information ................................................. 6 Who We Are ........................................................................................ 7 Our Mission ........................................................................................ 7 Our Ethos ............................................................................................ 7 Principal Activities ........................................................................... 7 Clarecare’s - Family Support Service ......................................... 8 Clarecare’s - Older Person Services ......................................... 10 Clarecare’s - Homecare Service ................................................. 11 Clarecare’s - Ennis Over 65’s Club ............................................ 12 Clarecare’s - Ennistymon Over 65’s Club ............................... 13 Clarecare’s - Killaloe Over 65’s club ......................................... 13 Clarecare’s - Bushypark Addiction Treatment Service ...... 14 Clarecare’s - Counselling Service ............................................. 16 Clarecare’s - Community Supports .......................................... 17 Clarecare’s - The Homework Club ............................................ 17 Clarecare’s - The Thrift Shops ..................................................... 18 Clarecare’s - Holiday Homes ...................................................... 18 Clarecare’s - Shannon Office ...................................................... 19 Our People ....................................................................................... 19 Clarecare’s - Community Employment Schemes ............... 20 Independent Auditors Report .................................................. 21 Acknowledgements ..................................................................... 24 Clarecare Annual Report 2019 3 Chairperson’s Report I feel very privileged to make this report to the members and the public as part of Clarecare’s 2019 annual report. This is my first report as Chairperson, a role I was elected to at our last AGM. I have a long history with Clarecare, personally as a service user and professionally in my various education roles and as a board member for three years. I am committed to ensuring that Clarecare continues to deliver quality services to the people of Clare. Over the past 51 years Clarecare has adapted Following an extensive recruitment process and changed to meet the needs of the people Catriona Lavelle was appointed in September it serves. The ability to meet those needs as Chief Executive Officer. Catriona has a wealth is realised by the coming together of our of knowledge, experience and expertise that we partners in the statutory and non-statutory are confident will help lead Clarecare into the sectors, management and staff in Clarecare, the next chapter. volunteers, board of directors and the public, religious and business communities. Clarecare has a strong management team and staff who have demonstrated their The Board of Directors of Clarecare is entirely professionalism and dedication to Clarecare, voluntary and currently comprises eight and the communities they serve. We thank them members, some of whom are newly recruited sincerely. Clarecare could not operate without its and some of whom have been with the Board dedicated team of volunteers. A special word of for a number of years. On behalf of Clarecare, thanks to all the volunteers within Clarecare who I would like to express my gratitude to current without their continued support and dedication and former Board Members for their service and Clarecare would not be able to operate as expertise over the years. Clarecare could not effectively. operate without the selfless commitment from the board members. Clarecare works in collaboration with Tusla, the HSE, Clare County Council, the Department 2019 saw the resignation from the Board of of Social and Family Affairs and the Probation Hugh Gallagher (Treasurer) and Jean Gaynor Service of the Department of Justice. Working (Secretary), both of whom made a great with various departments and agencies whilst contribution to Clarecare, for which we thank greatly beneficial brings its own challenges to them most sincerely. In addition to his stellar work our sector. The different reporting demands by for Clarecare, Hugh made a huge contribution to all public funders places a very large burden the oversight of Bushypark Treatment Centre. on the not for profit sector. Each funder has its Hugh’s unfailing generosity of expertise, time own unique reporting structure, all looking for and wisdom will be greatly missed. As a Board, the same information but in different levels of we were very lucky that Bill Twomey agreed to detail and layout. This is a challenge nationally serve as Secretary. Bill brings to the Board many and potentially resources to meet reporting years of management experience of working in demands could mean that resources will be the public and private sectors and Bill’s expertise diverted from front line services. will be a great asset to Clarecare. On behalf of the Board, I also extend sympathy The full Board meets on a regular basis in to all who have been bereaved in the last year. addition to various sub-committee meetings. There were a number of retirements across Sub-committees are formed with management the Service during the year and I would like and staff of Clarecare to address issues such to extend best wishes to all who have retired as Finance and Audit, Governance and Estate and to thank them for their loyal service and management, Communications, Quality Safety contribution over the years. & Assurance. These Committees are essential to ensure Clarecare is compliant with all relevant Thank you to all the service users for the legislation. continued use of our services. Thank you for the support and feedback. Feedback helps us to 2019 also saw the retirement of General change and improve our services. Thank you to Manager Fiacre Hensey. Fiacre was at the helm the general public for continued support. This of Clarecare for 16 years. During Fiacre’s tenure support comes in many forms, donations and Ireland went from the Celtic Tiger to Austerity purchases through our thrift shops, church gate to Recovery. Fiacre steered the ship with great collections, other appeals, volunteering, liking aplomb and Clarecare continued to grow and our Facebook page, promoting our services and expand its services, despite the challenges in a myriad of other ways. You help us to make a presented. We are very thankful to Fiacre for his difference in the lives of the people of Clare! stewardship and wish him well in his retirement. Helen O’Sullivan 4 CEO Statement It was a great privilege for me to be appointed CEO of Clarecare taking up the position in September 2019. I want to thank the Board and the staff of Clarecare for the very warm welcome I received. I want to acknowledge the enormous contribution of Fiacre Hensey, who was General Manager prior to my appointment and provided the leadership of the organisation for the last sixteen years and I wish him all the best in his retirement. Since starting in the position, it has become On behalf of Clarecare, and on my own behalf, I increasingly clear to me the important role would like to thank everyone who contributed Clarecare has played in delivering a wide range in any way to our activities. A special word of of support services to the people of Clare over a thanks to the people of Clare and the extended fifty-one-year period. Indeed, great credit is due Mid-west region for their ongoing generosity to the founding members of Clarecare as it has and support for our fundraising events. grown extensively from its origins. Clarecare is indeed fortunate that it has in place During the year there was an active ongoing such a dedicated and committed Board of demand for our services and despite many Directors, who give so freely of their time and pressures and challenges, the aim always expertise on a voluntary basis. I would like to remained to ensure that we delivered high acknowledge the invaluable contribution and quality care to our many service users significant level of support received throughout throughout County Clare and the extended 2019. mid-west region. Clarecare has long recognised the value and importance of strong partnership The healthcare sector is entering a period and this is particularly so in our working of significant change as outlined in the relationship with our primary funders, the HSE Slainte report, bringing both challenges and and Tusla. opportunities. As an organisation delivering a broad range of services to such varying service 2019 was a year of great progress in Clarecare user groups across many service locations, one where we worked with more older people,