Minutes of the VSS Health and Wellbeing Committee

Thursday 22nd May 2025

MS Teams

 

 

HWB Committee Members Present:

Sandra Horley (SH)                        VSS Board Member & Committee Chair

Catriona MacArthur (CMcA)           VSS Board Member

 

 

VSS Officers in Attendance

Nicola Nugent (NN)                         VSS Head of Health and Wellbeing

Tara Lewsley (TL)                            VSS Head of Learning and Growth

Deirdre Scullion (DS)                      VSS Health & Wellbeing Case Manager (minutes)

Carol Carmichael (CC)                   VSS Community Partnership Manager

Rosalyn Jones (RJ)                         VSS Human Resources Manager

 

 

A      Apologies

Karen Morgan (KM)                         VSS Health and Wellbeing Case Manager

Ciara Boyle (CB)                              VSS Health & Wellbeing Case Manager (ML)

Diksha Balodia (DB)                        VSS Business Support Officer

 

 

 

B       Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the previous HWB Committee meeting held on 12th Feb 2025 were agreed, pending amendment in section (F) Strategic Service Delivery Updates-MBMLW (clarify meaning- actioned).

 

C       Action Points

Action point updates provided on the outstanding action points, noting all have been completed, in workplans or are on track for completion.

 

D      Clinical Governance (Verbal update NN)

The Child Safeguarding policy was reviewed and updated to incorporate a trauma-informed approach. The Clinical Governance framework and policy for Reporting Serious Adverse Incidents also reviewed. The Health and Wellbeing Committee feedback on updated policies positive relating to content. However, recommended final draft is proofread, to address typos and review sentence structure to ensure is more user/reader friendly). Agreed to be forwarded to AW for approval with proof reading amendments made. NN advised there will be a Trauma Informed Principles section incorporated into all policies going forward. CMcA asked that Policies are issued to them for consideration in an editable format.

Suggestion by Committee that procedural graphic within policy, setting out how to respond to a child safeguarding issues, be moved to front of policy. NN updated that staff have ‘quick notes’ and infographic’s of responding procedures (on desktops/ at workstations).

Client Risk Reporting – Q4 (Jan 25- March 25) 1 individual on client risk register. No safeguarding incidents were reported. No SAI’s. NN noted no significant increase in challenging engagements, with a reduction since SDA payments. Committee noted slight increase (11) compared to previous year and also noted increased number of calls received. Discussion on this potentially being related to increased SDA payments, but also media reporting around various issues e.g. Legacy Act, which can impact V/S emotional/psychological wellbeing.

CC further added that the Serious Adverse Incident training is currently being scoped with Community and Voluntary partners. No issues regarding clinical governance were identified or reported from partners.

 

E       Training and Development

E1. SH queried if Safeguarding Training is available for the Board members. NN updated in-house accredited Safeguarding trainers within VSS. SH reinforced it is important for Board members to have Safeguarding training as overseers of VSS work, particularly important for new board members. SH highlighted the importance of ‘leading by example’ as this is a key strategic goal mirroring the PfG priority to imbed Trauma Informed Practice across the Health and Social Care Sector.

          CC advised a workforce development training programme (PEACEPLUS funded) continues to be developed for the sector to address training needs. In the first instance, mandatory training needs (safeguarding, protect life etc) will be identified with appropriate training scheduled. In parallel, a training needs analysis of the sector is being completed with a training plan to be developed.

NN advised that the VSS Trauma I and II training is included on the list of mandatory training modules in addition to the comprehensive 4-day training course with WAVE. Further, 2 VSS staff members have Train the Trainer qualifications now, with the aim of sharing their expertise across the sector. CC advised that VSS are maintaining a catalogue of training available across the sector to enable better knowledge sharing following the completion of the needs analysis exercise.

Quality Mark update

E2. NN updated that the application for GOLD Quality Mark has been submitted and being progressed by the team. Furthermore, NN updated that recently she and other staff completed training delivered by the ‘One Small Thing’ organisation. This was to support staff to imbed Trauma Informed Practice into VSS policies.   

NN advised of progress against the various action points since the previous Committee session. Some discussion followed on these points with the following noted:

-           NN advised that a Service-User Engagement Policy is an outstanding action, but under development to highlight the methods by which VSS engage and obtain feedback from service users and ensure their views are incorporated into the design and delivery of services.

 

-           Discussion followed about trauma-informed strategies and how they are being developed within the sector. VSS is currently developing a plan for sharing expertise with other organisations across the sector who wish to obtain a Trauma-Informed Quality Mark.

 

-           Timeframe discussed. Once application is made VSS agree a start date, with 3 months to submit for the Gold Quality Marker from the agreed start date. End of June start date goal currently, with end of September as submission date.

 

-           CMacA noted being mindful of pressures on staff and workloads that this additional work to achieve the gold standard could have.

 

 

F      Strategic Service Delivery Updates

F1    T/c (to include RTN, TPDPS and PEACEPLUS)

 

TPDP- 5 community partners and AW and ED in front of the TEO last week speaking to this, demonstrated partnership work in support of Community Partners, evidencing on-going collaborative working with VSS.

 

PEACEPLUS

Operational update on Work Force Training and Development Plan, Advocacy environment and reporting arrangements provided by CC.

TL updated that from April 2025 M&E reports now include Peace Plus outputs.

 

 

RTN

NN updated that recent RTN event was well attended, this was an all-sector event which focused on reinforcing that ‘we are all RTN’ and the appropriate referral pathways for all organisations to access Step 4 & Step 5 interventions if and as required.

Overall, positive updated provided at the RTN event on work going on within the trust RTN services

·         146 referrals to date, of which 70 people (48%) have had or are in treatment.

·         28% are on a waiting list currently

·         23% disengaged or signposted to another service.

NN noted waiting list issues with Belfast HSCT. Solutions continue to be explored to address the waiting list.

TL suggested a board strategic session to receive update on RTN would be appropriate. NN to action.

Committee (CMacA) queried on-going issue re: Trust referrals to C&V Sector remaining low. NN advised this is on the agenda at the clinical support meetings and is continually being reviewed.

Update to committee that an RTN Service User Engagement Survey has been developed by the RTN and will be rolled out to VSS community partners delivering Talking Therapies in Q2, with development and testing of processes in Q1.

 

F2. HIA

NN updated that HIA services 5-year service review by TEO is currently underway. Feedback about HIA services have been gathered via stakeholder engagement events.

 

F3. MBMLW

AW and NN meeting with TEO tomorrow (23-05-25) taking a workshop style approach to explore what support services are needed to support Victims/Survivors though the first stage of a Redress process. The resource to support victims and survivors through redress is not in our current approved business case. Exploration of a potential model of support is commencing.

 

 

F4. Service development Updates

TL provided update re: VSP co-design – 2 working groups including Health and Wellbeing and Social Support working group- completed and recommendations agreed. New Victim Support Programme 2026-28 call is in progress and subject to TEO approval of business case.

 

G       Review of needs-based service delivery / M&E

 

The Committee noted the need for more time in meeting to be dedicated to Monitoring & Evaluation reports. TL suggested move M&E higher in the agenda for future meetings as this also feeds into Strategic updates (agreed). Also agreed follow-up meeting for M&E reporting agreed – Tuesday 16th June 2-3pm.  

 

 

H       Employee Wellbeing                                                

RJ to share presentation at meeting on Tuesday 16th June 2-3pm.

 

 

J       Health and Wellbeing Committee Work Plan                   

 

The Workplan was noted for later discussion.

 

 

K        AOB

         

TL noted Committee self-assessment held up by technical issues- hopeful draft will be completed within next 2 weeks.

         

          Date of Next Meeting

 

A follow-up VSS Health and Wellbeing Committee meeting agreed to take place on 16th June 2025 Via MS Teams, DB/NN to forward meeting link.