dorthy thomas, irish cancer society

Dorothy Thomas Coordinator

Overview

The affiliation programme is a network of more than 40 community based cancer support centres and services that have come together under the umbrella of the Irish Cancer Society.

Aim of the project • Improve the quality of life and psychosocial well-

being of people in Ireland who have or who have been affected by cancer directly or indirectly.

• Heighten awareness of the efficacy of psycho-social support for people affected by cancer.

• Broaden access to and utilisation of psycho-social support services across Irish society.

• Training• Grants• Networking• National statistics and trends• Meaningful Evaluation

Conditions for Affiliation

• CHY number

• Policies on confidentiality, data protection and complaints

• Signed up to the Governance Code & Guiding Principles of Fundraising

• Have a clear mission and vision/values statement

• Have a strategic plan/ plan of activity/business plan

• Attend a minimum of two affiliates’ meetings per year and the National Conference for Cancer Survivorship

• Show that volunteers & staff are trained/qualified for their roles

• Be able to send and receive emails

Siobhan MacSweeney - Manager

THE BACKGROUND STORY…. 2008 The story began 2009 The house was purchased Sept 3rd 2010 we opened our doors,

initially for 2 days a week Currently we are open Monday-

Thursday in Tralee and we have an outreach service in Killarney 2 days a month.

It is the Mission Statement of Recovery Haven to deliver caring and therapeutic services to those

who have experienced cancer, their families and carers, in a

tranquil and relaxing environment and to the highest standards

MISSION STATEMENT

WELCOME

HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK? Currently we have staff of 1.75

WTE (Manager/Nurse and administer)

Over 100 volunteers (listeners, complementary therapists, gardeners, cleaners, fundraisers, board of Directors)

Professional counsellors and group facilitators

CE Scheme reception staff. Grant from ICS for Counselling

services No other state funding!

WHAT WE PROVIDE

Support Groups

Complementar

y therapies

Children’s

Counselling

Yoga, Pilates, Walking Group

Beauty Therapy

Art TherapyMindfulness

Counselling

FUNDRAISING

BOARD

GARDENING

THERAPISTS

Staff

CLEANING

Volunteer Listeners

WHAT ARE OUR OBLIGATIONS? Most importantly to our service users to ensure we provide a high

standard of supportive care, our volunteers that we provide a safe environment & our community that we are delivering the best service in the most appropriate and cost effective way.

We train all our volunteers listeners within our service and through the ICS and other bodies

We offer training and on-going support to our complementary therapists and all volunteers.

Supervision to our counsellors and group facilitators Affiliation requirements to the ICS Charities Act 2009 which leads to conforming with requirements of

Charity regulator, Companies Registration Office and Revenue. National Volunteers guidelines including recruiting, interviewing and

Garda vetting of all volunteers Children First Health and Safety HSE & local government requirements (fire safety, disability etc)

DECLARATION OF GOOD PRACTICE

BEFORE AFFILIATION…. ‘Paddling your own canoe’ ‘No yardstick to measure your centre

against’

DURING AFFILIATION..... ‘Suspicion initially, what would we lose’ ‘Worried that the I.C.S. would come in and

take over what we had’ ‘Glad we had the courage to move with it’

WHAT HAS THE AFFILIATION PROGRAMME BROUGHT TO RECOVERY HAVEN

Personally you can be isolated in your role within a voluntary/ charity sector so having support is vital

In today’s world policies and procedures are the framework for your organisation

Advance Standards within cancer support services Communication Public Confidence The power of collective collaboration Provides a base and focus

DRAWBACKS…. Paperwork Good ideas and progress may appear

be hampered within the system. Some worry about losing what is

unique to each centre. Confusion between us and the ICS.

When Society events are run locally the communities often think the support centre get the funds.

WE HAVE A DUTY OF CARE ….

THE FUTURE… Continue to

work together

Recognition at a national level for the Cancer Support Centres

Await the NCCP report

Anne EustaceOccupational Psychologist

Psychology of Affiliation

• Guidance and support• Shared learning through experience• Strength in unity• Knowing the anchor of good practice• Move from the individual to the collective• A sense of belonging

Technical Steps to Affiliation

Concept• Affiliation as a concept• Affiliation as a process

Design• Research• Consultation• Resources, e.g. Guidelines, quality

standard, manuals, workshop

Implementation• Communication• Training Programme• On going consultation and refinement

Learning..if we were starting over

• Tune into and encourage expectations• Enliven early engagement• Work from a point of appreciation and

positive energy• Create a groundswell• Communication – constant flow• Allow time to work its magic