Minutes of the VSS Health & Wellbeing Committee Meeting 18
Tuesday 23 February 2023
VSS Offices
HWB Committee Members Present:
Patricia Haren (PH) VSS Board Member & Committee Chair
Sandra Horley (SH) VSS Board Member
VSS Officers in Attendance
Nicola Nugent (NN) VSS Acting Head of Health and Wellbeing
Ciara Boyle (CB) VSS Health and Wellbeing Case Manager
Lynsey Archibald (LA) Business Support Officer (minutes)
A Apologies
No apologies. SH welcomed as new Committee Member.
B Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of the previous HWB Committee meeting held on 09 November 2021 were agreed.
C Review of ToR
Chair noted that the last review of the Committee ToR was done in September 2021. The following recommendations were made:
1.2 – Due to the exceptional circumstances facing the Board as a result of reduced membership, PH will remain chair for one more year before a review and re-nomination next February, and her resignation in March 2024.
3.5 – Review of Client Risk Management Policy to be reviewed bi-annually instead of annually, and review of key policies to be undertaken as required rather than annually.
Annex 1 – PH’s appointment dates to be updated, from February 2023-March 2024. Re-nomination of Chair now due February 2024.
Action point: Update and re-issue ToR.
D Review of 21/22 HWB Workplan
- Dates of upcoming Quarterly Meetings for 2023 set, with location TBC depending on SH’s ability to coordinate travel to NI with other Board engagements on those days:
Wednesday 17th May, 11:30-13:00
Wednesday 13th September, 11:30-13:00
Wednesday 15th November, 11:30-13:00
- SH expressed interested in undertaking Psychological Trauma training with WAVE, as well as background information sessions on HIA/MBMLW. CB/NN to follow up.
- Chair suggested increasing preparation for Quarterly Meetings from 1 day to 1.5 days, on the basis that PH has a large workload as Chair and SH is new and needs time to get to grips with the material. To follow up with OW of VSS Board.
Action Point: PH to discuss increasing preparation time ahead of Quarterly Meetings with VSS Board Chair OW, from 1 to 1.5 days.
Action Point: CB/NN to provide SH with training on HIA/MBMLW, and register on WAVE Trauma course.
E HWB Committee Objectives 22-23
No updates
F Action Points
All action points reviewed and kept open, as this was the first recommencement of HWB Committee since 2021.
G Clinical Governance
1. Client Risk/Safeguarding/Serious Adverse Incidents
Paper was reviewed, with NN noting the extremely low rate (2) of difficult calls logged during the October-December period, raising concerns about staff tolerance of unacceptable behaviour. It was agreed that behaviour standards should be reiterated and staff encouraged to report abusive incidents, alongside consolidating training for frontline AOs.
Action Point: NN/CB to review staff training, and ways to make reporting procedures more helpful for monitoring purposes.
2. Clinical Governance Checks for Funded Organisations
The Committee noted this paper.
H Quarter End Outcomes Report
Outcomes discussed at VSS Strategic Board Meeting, which took place earlier today. No further updates.
I Service Development
1. Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA)
NN updated committee on HIA awareness campaign being undertaken by TEO, to consist of newspaper adverts and country-wide leaflet drops to take place in May. NN feeding back to TEO regarding leaflet design, and registered concerns surrounding a range of editorial and design issues, as well as misuse of VSS branding.
Action Point: NN to continue working with TEO to improve leaflet design, and send Board final version once available.
2. Mother & Baby Institutions, Magdalen Laundries and Workhouses (MBMLW)
DNA testing pilot for MBMLW to launch next week, details to be shared will Board and HWB Committee once finalised.
3. Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (TPDPS)
No updates
4. Regional Trauma Network (RTN)
No updates
5. Clerical Abuse
NN noted that a research piece commissioned by TEO was not approved, and will likely be delayed until summer-time.
J Trauma Informed Quality Mark
NN updated the Committee that ‘One Small Thing’ will be the provider of VSS’s Trauma Informed Quality Mark, on the basis that they have broader scope than other companies who have more specific experience dealing with victims of sexual violence.
VSS is aiming for silver accreditation, and KM is putting together criteria table for reference. Timescales still to be confirmed.
Action Point: Review progress
K Additional Clinical Expertise
No updates
L Date of Next Meeting
The next VSS Health and Wellbeing Committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 17 May 2023.