Annual General Meeting
6 September 2005

  
 
AGM hears about new service framework.
The charity’s AGM on 6 September 2005 heard confident reports from Chairman Michael Switzer and Services Director Mary Goulty, and of a healthy financial position from Acting Treasurer Paul Simpson. Guest Speaker Wallace Pointon from the Melton Rutland and Harborough Primary Care Trust then brought members up to date with details of the new National Service Framework for long term neurological conditions.

The Chairman reported on the three key issues of improved accommodation, the retirement of Sylvia Davis as General Manager, and future funding. The accommodation project had been completed on time and within budget, and Michael Switzer paid tribute to all those who had been involved in it, notably Richard Smith who led the Accommodation Sub-Committee and conceived the basic scheme of the project. Marietta Sharp and all the House staff were congratulated on their management of the temporary move to and from the Mayflower Centre during the building work.

Sylvia’s retirement had been brought forward because of personal circumstances, and Mary Goulty had had to take up her new post with rather less handover than had been planned. She was praised for the new ideas and energy which she brought into the organisation. With regard to future funding, the Chairman referred to trustees’ increasing concern that the funding regime from our statutory funders made no provision for the overheads of Headway House or directly related management costs, which meant that, contrary to Charities Commission guidelines, we were meeting the requirements of some of the Service Level Agreements from voluntary donations. Negotiation currently taking place with Health and Social Services are aimed at correcting this anomaly.

In her first report as Services Director, Mary Goulty paid tribute to her predecessor’s work in the development of Headway over 15 years. She reported on the departure of three members of staff, Angela Walker, Debbie Watson and Pravina Rohit. Only the latter’s post, as Ethnic Minorities Support Worker, remained unfilled at the time of the meeting, and recruitment was still in process. Mary expressed gratitude to fundraiser Kathy Yallop for the substantial voluntary funding she had obtained. The refurbished Day Centre had proved to be a great success and had been met with enthusiasm from everyone. Outreach work had developed further with the re-start of the Melton group, and closer working ties with the Core Brain Injury Team since its relocation to a dedicated unit at the General Hospital. Mary’s report ended with an encouraging review of new initiatives now under way.

Paul Simpson’s Financial Report recorded a substantial increase in income over the previous year, but pointed out that this was almost entirely due to the appeal for funds for the refurbishment and came from voluntary sources. He indicated that there had been a surplus in the year of over £64000, but that £56500 was still designated for building costs falling into the current financial year.

After a break, during which Sylvia Davis formally inaugurated the new Quiet Room, which has been designated ‘Sylvia’s Room’, members heard from Mr Wallace Pointon about the guidelines and plans of the new Service Framework which was published in March of this year. This lays down the standards for service across both Health and Social Services, and the government’s expectations over the next 10 years. Against a background where one person in six suffers from some form of neurological condition, that they account for 20% of acute hospital admissions, 33% of GP visits and 50% of Social Service caseloads for adults aged 18-64, the current performance is described as having patchy services, unmet needs, and inequality of access (the ‘postcode lottery’). Waiting times for diagnosis are too long, and there is a lack of experienced and skilled staff.

The priorities over the next three years are:
· to provide personalised care plans for people most at risk
· to reduce emergency bed days by 5%
· to have managers for those at high risk and
· to undertake a wide ranging review of adult Social Services.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) will produce guidance on the best practices in Head Injury Treatment. The Quality Requirements set out in the Framework include:
· better information to provide co-ordinated care across agencies
· early recognition with prompt diagnosis
· early and specialist rehabilitation for sudden disability
· community rehab and support
· vocational rehab
· better supply of equipment and accommodation
· adequate attention to personal, family and palliative care and
· support during admission to hospital.

Multi-agency planning networks were being set up to progress existing plans for Brain Injury, Respite, Community Rehabilitation and the assessment of housing needs. Mr Pointed emphasised that all this is all a national framework; it is down to the local authorities to implement it. Leicestershire and Rutland would soon be integrated with Northamptonshire to form a regional authority. He realised that all of this would impact on Headway’s Vision and business planning over the coming months and years.