Structure, Governance and Management

Objectives and Activities

The Objects of the Charity are set out in its Memorandum of Association,   Elsewhere in the Notes of these Accounts under the heading of “Activities in the year” some detail is provided on the fulfillment of those Objectives during the financial year.   Having regard to the level of public benefit provided by the Charity as identified in these Objectives and Activities the trustees are satisfied that it meets the conditions set out in the guidance provided by the Charity Commission

The Objects for which the Company is established are to be effected within the County of Warwickshire and  surrounding districts ( "The area of Benefit") and are to promote the relief of persons residing in the Area of Benefit being persons in need of such relief by reasons of age, illness, physical sensory disability, mental distress, learning disabilities or other disadvantages by developing, supporting, promoting and providing a variety of advocacy skills for such people and to promote such other charitable purposes as may be beneficial to such persons.

The main activities for the year are as shown below.

Activities in the year

The organisation provides a professional Advocacy Service and a Corporate Appointee Service for clients who by disability or illness require support or representation to obtain their rights or services. Services are delivered under joint contract to Primary Care Trusts Warwickshire, and WCC Adult Community Services and Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Health Trust.  The delivery of statutory IMHA service is funded by Coventry and Warwickshire Mental Health Trust and Solihull PCT. The Appointee Service is provided for adults who are vulnerable and deemed to be at risk and is delivered under contract to Warwickshire County Council, Social Services.  Individuals or other councils can purchase this service on a Spot Purchase basis.

Advocacy Services

Physical Disability Service provides 37 hrs per week of advocacy across Warwickshire, providing an advocacy service to adults either in hospital, own home or community accommodation.   During the year Hospital and Community Physical Disability advocacy support and representation has been provided to 84 clients.

Learning Disability Service provides 92 hrs. per week of advocacy across Warwickshire, providing an advocacy  service to learning disabled adults living in their own homes or community accommodation, plus 6 hrs for Brooklands hospital campus clients 18 hours for carers and 8 hrs for child protection cases per week. During the year advocacy support and representation has been provided to 150 learning disabled clients plus 12 Brookland campus clients, 46 carers and 4 carers involved in child protection cases.

Older People Service provides 37hrs per week of advocacy across Warwickshire, providing an advocacy service to older people 65 years and above who are in hospital, own homes or community accommodation. During the year support and representation has been provided to 123 clients Plus acting as DOLS Representative for 2 clients. 

Older People Pathways Service provides 37hrs per week of advocacy across Warwickshire, providing an advocacy service to 50 years and above age group who are not receiving support from Health or Social Services.  This service is run alongside Age Concern Warwickshire and DIAL Information and Advice Service.  During the year support and representation has been provided to 137  clients.
 
Mental Health Service provided 124 hrs per week of advocacy across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull providing Mental Health Advocacy to adults in hospital, during discharge from hospital and in the community. During the year Mental Health Advocacy provided support and representation for 353 clients  .

Personalisation Advocacy services provided 37 hrs per week of advocacy support throughout the year.   The project was funded by WCC Adult Health and Community services and has provided support to 42 clients throughout the year with continuing  health care issues.  This pilot project ceased on 31st March 2010.

Appointee Service provided 88hrs per week of Corporate Appointee services purchased throughout the year via contract and spot purchase across Warwickshire for adults who are at risk or vulnerable through lack of family or friends, plus 23 hours per week of finance administration.   This service is delivered under contract to WCC Adult Health and Community services.   During the year the Appointee service supported 191 clients within our existing contracts plus 61 self funding clients.

Volunteer Support continues to provide a volunteer advocacy support service to clients. This service is delivered under contract to WCC Adult Health and Community Services. 10 volunteers throughout the year have worked with 27 clients. Training programmes  have been organised for volunteers and staff.     

Quality Assurance

Trustees and staff have contributed to maintain ISO 9001 Registration Certificate.  Training programmes have been organised for staff specifically City and Guilds Advocay plus additional modules for ADULT Advocacy,  IMHA and DOLS Representative.    Volunteers and trustees have also taken part in a training programme  throughout the year.

Statistics:                                                     31st March`              2010                  2009

Volunteers                                                                                        10                    (10)

Staff                                                                                                  29                    (24)

Total No. referrals to Independent Advocacy                               1205                (1014)

Total No. referrals to Appointee Service                                         191                 (188)

(Contract and Spot Purchase)

Total No. referrals to Appointee service                                           61                    (39)

(Self Funding clients)