WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN IMPROVE EACH OTHER’S LIVES ANNUAL REPORT 2016 www.clarecare.ie 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 4 Chairman’s Statement 5 Clarecare in County Clare 6 Clarecare Staffing Profile 6 Future Trends and Challenges 7 Family Support Services 8 Older Persons Services 9 Adoption Services 10 Clarecare Counselling Service 11 Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre 11 Community Employment Scheme 12 Community Development 12 General Support Services 12 Thrift Shops 13 Community Information 13 Holiday Houses 13 Ennis Drop-In Service 13 Auditor’s Report 14 Extracts from the financial statements 15 Funders and Supporters 19 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 CLG, 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 The Board gratefully acknowledges the valuable contribution of Board Secretary Ina Reddan who died in April 2017. 4 CLARECARE ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Chairman’s Report The Board of Clarecare is entirely The organisation has been very fortunate in the Senior voluntary and comprises both Management Team which is in place under the direction newly recruited members and of the General Manager. In particular, the Board wishes to members who have been involved acknowledge the significant leadership of Fiacre Hensey as with Clarecare or its predecessor, General Manager, in a very testing economic climate. He, with Clare Social Services Council, for his team, has been central in meeting the challenges of the past more than 40 years. Under the difficult years and as a Board we acknowledge this contribution. Constitution of the Company, Clarecare has a very flat management structure unlike other one member each is nominated organisations of similar size. This has the advantage that the by the Sisters of Mercy and by maximum possible amount of funding is directed to the coal the Diocese of Killaloe. All other face of caring for which it was intended. However, it depends on members are elected by the the enormous generosity of the small group of senior managers members of the Company. As Chairman of the Board, I wish to in Clarecare who work over and above what is expected of record the gratitude of the Company to all the members of the them to ensure the health and well being of the organisation Board, both past and currently serving, for their unstinted efforts and the innovative care of our clients. On behalf of the Board, on behalf of the Company and on behalf of the people of Clare I want to thank all the staff of the organisation for their work, which is the reason why the Company exists and acts. their enthusiasm, and for their generous response to the many demands made on them in these challenging economic times. During the past years, both the Board and the Staff suffered family bereavements and, on behalf of the Board, I extend the Clarecare has always worked well with partner organisations sympathy of my colleagues to all who have lost loved ones. We in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. It is appropriate to also remember retired staff members who have passed away acknowledge the many people past and present in the statutory since the last Report. sector who worked creatively with Clarecare staff in solving local issues to County Clare and who saw that Clarecare could be an The Board acts properly as a single entity but throughout the effective partner in the delivery of Social Services. Clarecare year different members of the Board act either together or continues to work collaboratively with Tusla, the HSE, Clare with staff members to carry out specific governance tasks and County Council, the Department of Social and Family affairs and to look at issues which arise from new legislation. Currently the Probation Service of the Department of Justice. Board Members are working with staff and others in the development of the Bushypark Addiction Treatment Centre, a It is also important to recognise the trust placed in Clarecare by new Shannon Building, finance and accounting requirements all those who avail of our services. We deeply appreciate that and the communications and promotion of Clarecare. The trust and always strive to honour our responsibilities. Finally, Board is currently discussing the fundamental governance it is appropriate to thank the public without whose support of the organisation and the deepening and expansion of Clarecare would find it very difficult to carry out the work it the membership of the Company in order to strengthen the does. The unfailing generous response to the Annual Church governance of the organisation and to provide a pool of Gate Collection and to the Christmas Food Appeal shows experienced and committed people from which future Board that Clarecare is seen as an effective and efficient means of members can be drawn. transferring kindness and care from those who have enough to those who have needs of many different kinds. The assistance of Since the last Annual Report, the Company has sold McAuley many other charities in the Clare area is particularly appreciated, House in Spanish Point with the consent of the various donors not least the generosity of the Lions Club of Ennis which has who contributed to it in the past and the original donors, the been a long standing supporter of the Christmas Food Appeal. Sisters of Mercy. The work for which it was used in the past is no longer part of the Clarecare package of services and the A report like this can only touch briefly on the complexities of an maintenance of the building had become a serious drain on organisation like Clarecare but the Board hopes that this entire finances. The funds which it realised have been ring-fenced report will enable the reader to see the full breadth of services with the agreement of previous donors and will be used to provided and the care and accountability for public funds which provide family services in a new purpose built family centre in we hope will continue to be a trademark of the organisation. Shannon, a long awaited base for Clarecare work in that area of the County. Work continues to be done in the communications and promotion of Clarecare. This area has become ever more important to the wellbeing of the organisation as we now are in a competitive field, tendering with other organisations for work which Clarecare was the sole provider of in the past. The level Rev. Ger Nash of detail in our Financial Reporting has deepened considerably Chairperson in the past year. This is a very necessary development and arises both from more increased demands from funders and from the necessary obligations of the Charities legislation. Because of its many funding strands and its varied and often overlapping cost centres, the development of our reporting structure has taken much work and the Board is grateful to all in the Administration and Accounts departments for this. The oversight of Board member, Hugh Gallagher, is as invaluable in this area as ever, ensuring that the Board has concise and effective feedback on the financial situation of the Company at its meetings. CLARECARE ANNUAL REPORT 2016 5 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 CLG staff members, with 370 Clarecare employed as part-time Home Carers, 74 core staff and 33 as Community Profile Employment Scheme Board of Directors participants. General Manager Finance Dept Older Person’s Services Bushypark Addiction Community Development Adult Administration/ Family Support Manager Home Care Manager Treatment Centre Manager Adoption Service & Volunteer Service Counselling Service HR Manager Community Development Family Workers Home Care Co-ordinators Treatment Team Leader Administration