Minutes of the VSS Health & Wellbeing Committee Meeting 11

Tuesday 23 February 2021

Remote via Zoom

HWB Committee Members Present:

Patricia Haren (PH)                     VSS Board Member & Committee Chair

Beverley Clarke (BC)                   VSS Board Member

VSS Officers in Attendance

Bryan Leonard (BL)                     VSS Head of Health and Wellbeing

Emma Dargan (ED)                     VSS Programmes Manager

Nicola Nugent (NN)                      VSS Health and Wellbeing Case Manager

Aongus O’Keeffe (AOK)               VSS HWB Programme Manager

Melissa McCartan (MM)                VSS Business Support Officer (minutes)

A      Apologies

No apologies received.

B      Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the previous HWB Committee meeting held on 12 November 2020 were agreed.  

C      Action Points

AOK provided an update on the following outstanding action points.

09.09.20 - AP4: Committee Workplan for 20/21 to be developed and finalised. It was noted the 20/21 draft will be recirculated along with the annual report for review.

18.02.20 – AP1: Protect Life Quick Guide for Call Handlers to be updated based on discussions and circulated to all staff. It was noted the quick guide has been circulated to all staff, including an updated version for remote working. AOK is liaising with VSS Case Managers to arrange training for new staff members and to update the quick guide.

18.02.20 – AP5: Additional Clinical Expertise to be recruited / co-opted onto Committee. It was agreed that BL will liaise with MB to progress this action point ahead of the next meeting. 

18.02.20 – AP7: Chair of Committee to meet CEO or HHWB 2 weeks prior to meetings. It was agreed Chair of Committee will contact HHWB to seek availability and arrange these meetings.

VSS Chair to meet bi-laterally with HWB Committee Chair. Dates to be agreed with VSS Chair.

10.09.19 – AP1: HWB Programme Manager to work with M&E team and others in VSS to take forward further analysis of CORE data. It was noted VSS are progressing data analysis using PowerBI software which will provide more real time/ dynamic data for review.

05.12.18 – AP5: Outstanding registrations to be raised again at SMT level. BL to provide an update on progress at next HWB Committee meeting.

Action Points arising from 23.02.21:

23.02.21 – AP1: AOK to circulate 2021-22 work plan ahead of May 2021 meeting.

23.02.21 – AP2: AOK to draft HWB Committee Annual Report for 2020/21 and share with Committee Chair for review.

23.02.21 - AP3: NN to link in with other organisations to identify potential training needs in relation to Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries.

D Policies: New & Under Development

The Committee noted one HIA policy currently under development, which relates to managing disclosures of non-recent abuse.

NN anticipates that the first draft will be finalised by end of March/April 2021. Policy will be circulated to members and discussed at the next Health and Wellbeing Committee meeting. 

E      Clinical Governance

E1 - Client Risk / Safeguarding / Serious Adverse Incidents

The Committee noted that two clients have been added to the client risk register to date in 2020/21.

The Committee noted an increase in challenging phone calls in February 2021.

In relation to safeguarding, serious adverse incidents and unacceptable behaviour, there are no new issues to report.

E2 - Training & Development

Funding and participation information was provided to the Committee, in relation to the Workforce Training & Development Plan.

ED advised that a review of all mandatory training will be carried out to mop up any new or refresher training required for new or existing staff.

It is anticipated that another call will go out to the sector in 2021 to further inform and support training and development, as previously done in August 2020.

The Committee discussed potential learning and development needs in relation to Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries.

F      CEO Exception Report

Nothing to note.

G     Quarter End Outcomes Report

The Committee noted the outcomes based ME report for Q3 2020-21.

H      Covid-19 Working Group

It was noted the VSS Covid-19 Working Group continue to meet regularly to discuss risk assessments and assist with a safe phased return to the workplace.

Specific projects currently require some staff in the office on an ad hoc basis. It was noted that the building work remains ongoing on the 1^st Floor of Seatem House. 

I       Service Development

NN provided an update on Historical Institutional Abuse. It was noted an options paper for social support is currently being developed and the team will begin to look at how this can be facilitated by HIA Groups.

The Committee noted the successful recruitment of two receptionists within VSS, one for Victims of HIA and another for Victims of the Troubles/Conflict. It was noted WAVE have went out for recruitment for four HIA posts. These posts include, 2 Case Workers, 1 Welfare Officer and 1 Outreach worker. No updates on the outcome of recruitment as of yet.

NN advised planning for HIA communications strategy is underway and will be issued once restrictions begin to lift.

The Committee noted updates in relation to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (TPDPS).

The Committee noted that Ministers have received the submission in relation to the needs of the Bereaved and that VSS still await approval. It is anticipated that the scheme will reopen in April 2021.

J      AOB

BL provided an update on the work carried out around substance misuse/addictions. It was noted an expression of interest will be issued to Groups to establish and set up a working group to develop an action plan.

K      Date of Next Meeting

The next VSS Health and Wellbeing Committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 04 May 2021.