ANNUAL REPORT 2015 WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN IMPROVE EACH OTHER’S LIVES Our mission is to work with people in a caring and respectful way to assist in improving their quality of life. In so doing we aim to be accessible, responsive, innovative and professional. Co-operation, willingness and flexibility to work with other voluntary organisations, communities and statutory agencies, are a core part of the organisation’s philosophy. Contents Introduction 2 Chairman’s Statement 3 Clarecare in County Clare 4 Clarecare Staffing Profile 4 General Manager’s Review 5 Family Support Services 6 Older Persons Services 7 Adoption Services 8 Therapeutic Services 9 Community Employment Scheme 10 Community Development 10 Thrift Shops 10 General Support Services 11 Community Information 11 Holiday Houses 11 Ennis Drop-In Service 11 Auditor’s Report 12 Extracts from the financial statements 13 Who are we? The Clarecare Clarecare is the largest Clare based, not for profit agency providing a unique range of support services for people in ethos is to put County Clare. people at the History Clarecare, originally Clare Social Service Council, was set up in 1968 as a means of co-ordinating and developing heart of the local services for the elderly. organisation, The Clare Social Services Council (CSSC) met with an enthusiastic response from the voluntary sector. It began as a parish based organisation with twenty three affiliated to value each organisations, the first staff member was employed in 1969, with the first Director starting in 1973. person’s The initial focus was the provision of services for older persons, but by the end of the 1970s, CSSC had extended contribution into services for children and families as more needs were identified. Clare Social Services Council was renamed and to hold Clarecare in 1987. Legal status the belief that Clarecare became a company limited by guarantee in 2003. The registered office is Clarecare, Harmony Row, in working Ennis. Registered in Ireland no. 350248. Charity no. CHY 6677. together we Governance - Board of Directors The Board’s role is corporate governance of Clarecare. can improve Board members: Rev. Ger Nash (Chairperson); Hugh Gallagher (Treasurer); Eugene Ryan; Angela McMahon; Michael Neylon, Ina Reddan (Sec.), Margaret Hennessy, each other’s Colette Quinlivan, Phil Mortell (absent from photo). Fiacre Hensey is the General Manager and reports to the Board. lives Chairman’s Statement As Chairman of Clarecare Clarecare has staff and volunteers who are facing Ltd, I am delighted to be personal challenges with their own health or family able to make a statement health. We wish all those who are unwell, a speedy to the members and and lasting recovery. the public. The Board of Clarecare is entirely The organisation has been very fortunate in the voluntary and comprises Senior Management Team under the direction both newly recruited of the General Manager. In particular, the Board members and members wishes to acknowledge the significant leadership of who have been involved Fiacre Hensey as General Manager, in a very testing with Clarecare or its economic climate. He with his team has been central predecessor, Clare Social Services Council, for in meeting the challenges of the past difficult years more than 40 years. Under the Constitution of the and as a Board we acknowledge this contribution. Company, one member each is nominated by the Clarecare does not have numerous levels of Sisters of Mercy and by the Diocese of Killaloe. All management such as might be found in other other members are elected by the members of the organisations of similar size. This has the advantage Company. As Chairman of the Board, I wish to record that the maximum possible amount of funding is the gratitude of the Company to all Board members, directed to the coal face of caring for which it was both past and currently serving, for their unstinted intended. However, it depends on the enormous efforts on behalf of the Company and on behalf generosity of the small group of senior managers in of the people of Clare which is the reason why the Clarecare who work over and above what is expected Company exists and acts. of them to ensure the health and well-being of the organisation and the innovative care of its clients. During the past year, both the Board and the staff suffered family bereavements and on behalf of the Clarecare has always worked well with partner Board I extend the sympathy of my colleagues to all organisations in both the statutory and voluntary who have lost loved ones. We also remember former sectors. It is appropriate to acknowledge the many staff members who have passed away since the last people past and present in the statutory sector who A.G.M. and Report. worked creatively with Clarecare staff in solving local issues to County Clare and who saw that Clarecare The Board acts properly as a single entity but could be an effective partner in the delivery of Social throughout the year, different members of the Board, Services. Clarecare continues to work collaboratively act either together or with staff members to carry out with TUSLA Child and Family Agency, the HSE, Clare specific governance tasks and to look at issues which County Council, the Department of Social and Family arise from new legislation. The Board is currently Affairs and the Probation Service of the Department discussing the fundamental governance of the of Justice. organisation and the deepening and expansion of the membership of the Company. This will strengthen Finally, grateful thanks to the public without whose the governance of the organisation and provide a support Clarecare would find it very difficult to carry pool of experienced and committed people from out the work it does. The unfailing generous response whom future Board members can be drawn. to the Annual Church Gate Collection and to the Christmas Food Appeal shows that Clarecare is seen Raising awareness of the role of Clarecare has as an effective and efficient means of transferring become ever more important to the wellbeing of kindness and care from those who have enough to the organisation as we now are in a competitive those who have needs of many different kinds. field, tendering with other organisations for work which previously Clarecare had as sole provider. The This statement can only touch briefly on the changing nature of home care delivery also means complexities of an organisation like Clarecare but the that individual service users will be able to decide Board hopes that this entire report will show the full who their provider should be and it will be important breadth of the services provided and the care and that the Clarecare name is foremost in peoples’ accountability for public funds which continue to be minds. a trademark of the organisation. I would also like to thank the staff and volunteers within the many services which Clarecare provides and to note the great spirit of teamwork which exists between volunteers and staff. I acknowledge the great service of those who retired during the past Rev. Ger Nash year. Clarecare appreciates all that you did during Chairperson your time in the organisation and wish you a very happy and healthy retirement. Like any organisation, CLARECARE ANNUAL REPORT 2015 3 Clarecare in County Clare Offices Ennistymon Respite Home Lahinch Day Centres Bushypark Miltown Malbay Thrift Shop Ennis Killaloe Citizens Information Centre Shannon Kilkee Kilrush Clarecare has almost 500 Clarecare Ltd staff members, with 370 Clarecare employed as part-time Home Helps, 74 core staff and 33 as Community Staffing Employment Scheme Board of Directors participants. Profile General Manager Older Person’s Services Bushypark Addiction Community Development Administration Family Support Manager Home Help Supervisor Treatment Centre Manager Adoption Service & Volunteer Service Counselling Service HR Manager Community Development Home Help Co-ordinators Treatment Team Leader Finance Family Workers Social Workers Worker & Volunteer Counsellors Administration Staff Childcare Workers Home Helps Counsellers Night Nurses Co-ordinator CE Scheme Supervisors Social Workers Assistant Supervisors Aftercare Chefs Administration CE Scheme Participants Adolescent Citizens Information Centre Advocacy Reception Accounts Caretaker Traveller Support Meal Centres Co-ordinators Volunteers Family Therapy Maintenance Springboard Collector Incredible Years Health & Safety Older Person’s Social Worker 4 CLARECARE ANNUAL REPORT 2015 General Manager’s Review The economic recovery based agency like Clarecare. A selective approach has as yet not been felt in to media exposure is facilitating the organisation’s the voluntary or not-for- development and expertise in promoting Clarecare profit sector as funding or as the provider of choice across the various services. lack of it continues to be We are fortunate that the Board of Clarecare actively the biggest impediment encourages and assists with this approach. to a sustained delivery of services to those With the exception of the Family Therapy Service, vulnerable in our society. Clarecare renewed all its Service Level Agreements The pain is particularly with the HSE (Older Persons and Mental Health), acute in the provision of TUSLA Child & Family Agency for Family Support services for older persons, where the average number Services, Depart of Social protection with the CE on the waiting list for Home Help on any given day Schemes, and the Probation Services with Clarecare’s is 150. To date requests for additional funds from Addiction Treatment Centre at Bushypark. the HSE have failed. Failure to intervene early with Home Care results in a more rapid deterioration in Volunteers and Volunteering have long been an overall health and wellbeing and a greater need for integral part of the Clarecare model of service expensive hospitalisation and long-term care. delivery. The appointment of a part-time Volunteer Co-ordinator has allowed for a better recruitment The fact that appropriate home care could enable and positioning process.