Plan Twenty Ten

INTRODUCING PLAN TWENTY TEN

Dear Member

As I am sure you will agree, the Post Polio Support Group will always strive to improve matters for Polio Survivors. While, at present, all the members of the Board are Polio Survivors, and in tune with the needs of those with Post Polio Syndrome, this did not stop us having extensive consultation with you, the Group members, to gather your thoughts and views on how we can provide better, more targeted services to help and support you. Thank you all so much for the work you put into the process and I hope you will feel that the plan we have all worked together to produce is worthwhile and that it has reflected your input.

One of the themes coming through all the consultations that were held was that members felt that there was not enough communication throughout the organisation. I have taken this very much to heart, as have all the Board members, and you can be assured we are determined, one and all, to communicate in a more complete way throughout the course of Plan Twenty Ten. Communication is a two way thing and I hope you all will keep up the flow of views to us whether through THE SURVIVOR, by writing to the office or by using the new discussion forum on our website. I know that the support requirements for every Polio Survivor are different and we cannot always respond immediately in the way someone may like. This however does not mean that we as a Group cannot build up over time to provide the right solution for you.

I feel that with a strategy like Plan Twenty Ten we are much better placed to improve supports to Polio Survivors. We have indicated a three year target under each programme heading which is seen as the principal deliverable over the period and I hope that in Autumn 2010 we can look back and say that it has been a good and fruitful three years, that we have met most of our key targets in a substantial way and many of the others also. When reading the following pages please bear in mind that “Tasks” are not listed in priority order under each programme heading and “Other targets” are not priority listed under each “Task”. I am sure you will agree that we are putting pressure on ourselves as we know it will stretch the whole organisation to deliver what we have outlined. However we can only try to do our best.

I know that those affected by Post Polio Syndrome have many challenges, not least in the activities of daily living. Coping with tiredness and pain can be very wearing and you may think you have little capacity to help the Group. This is not so. If everyone contacted just one Polio Survivor whom they knew and put them in touch with the Group that would be the start of lifelong support for that person and we would double the size of the Group in that one stroke! There are many who can and will offer more and we hope to harness all that work and energy over the next three years to build and strengthen the Group to make it serve the members better. I hope that I and the rest of the Board can count on your support to take this ambitious undertaking forward.

Yours Sincerely

Hugh Hamilton

Chairman

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to create awareness and to provide information regarding the late effects of polio among Polio Survivors, statutory agencies and the wider medical profession, and to ensure that the needs of Polio Survivors relating to their condition are met to enable them to live with dignity

Guiding Principles

The Post Polio Support Group is member led and Polio Survivors are central to its work
Services and supports will continue to be provided, based on needs identified through consultation with members, fairly and within the financial capacity of the Group
The Group will act according to best practice and in line with its Code of Conduct
Sensitivity, empathy and understanding are central to communication with Polio Survivors
Polio Survivors will be encouraged and enabled to live their lives with dignity
The Group will advocate for Social Policy change to encompass the needs of Polio Survivors
The Post Polio Support Group will cooperate and collaborate with other stakeholders, as appropriate

Core Objectives

To create awareness and provide information on Post Polio Syndrome
To support Polio Survivors
To advocate on behalf of Polio Survivors

Delivery of the Strategic Development Plan for the period September 2007 to September 2010, known as PLAN TWENTY TEN, will be accomplished through four Programmes, the first three to deliver the core objectives, and the fourth to enable the Group’s direction and control of the process

TARGETS for PLAN TWENTY TEN

PROGRAMME: Awareness and Information

TASK: Create Awareness

Design and implement initiatives to create awareness of the Late Effects of Polio targeting individual Polio Survivors, their families and carers, health care professionals and whole communities

Three year key target

Polio Survivors, their families and carers will be aware of the Group and its services

Other targets

Promote media coverage of Post Polio Syndrome in order to increase consciousness of the condition within society
Investigate novel methods of promoting awareness

TASK: Provide Information

Make information available in accessible formats to Polio Survivors and to all involved in their support and treatment, in particular those working in the medical and social care professions

Three year key target

Promote the publications of the Group, particularly THE SURVIVOR, and promote and develop the website as an information tool

Other targets

Promote “Post Polio Syndrome – Management and Treatment in Primary Care” within the medical and social care profession
Promote awareness of State and other benefits available to Polio Survivors

TASK: Research

Review current research on Post Polio Syndrome and developments related to the Late Effects of Polio encouraging and supporting relevant applied research

Three year key target

Promote research in line with the Group’s policy to improve the management of the care of Polio Survivors and the treatment of their conditions

Other targets

Ensure that the results of research programmes are fed back to Polio Survivors in accessible formats

TASK: Develop Volunteer Base, Local and Regional Structures

A well developed local structure is required to support the nationwide organisation and to invigorate it. Linkage to local health service delivery, as appropriate, will continue to be important

Three year key target

Improve and enhance the connections amongst the Group members within local and regional areas, which will form a basis for conducting activities, encompassing social gatherings and other developmental projects.

Other targets

Develop structured assistance to those organising local activities
Make the necessary contacts with those in evolving health service structures
Encourage and train volunteer personnel to support and manage social gatherings, activities and other development projects, generating sufficient funds

TASK: Contact and Support

Maintain contact programmes with Polio Survivors to ensure that their sense of isolation is minimal and that they can be made aware of the supports available to them

Three year key target

Develop the range and types of peer support which can be made available to Polio Survivors so that each can access those most suitable to his or her needs

Other targets

Develop opportunities for social and learning activities

TASK: Membership Development

Encourage all Polio Survivors to join the Post Polio Support Group (membership fee €10, optional) as this provides the most effective means of maintaining contact and passing on information on new developments

Three year key target

Increase membership by a minimum of 10%, net per annum

Other targets

Review the impact of aging on the Group membership particularly in light of the application of benefit changes at key ages in the retirement range

PROGRAMME Support for Polio Survivors

TASK: Building Adaptation

Assist Polio Survivors to make arrangements to adapt their homes, working towards a quality and standard of access which supports them in their efforts to maintain a high degree of independence

Three year key target

Make information available to members wishing to adapt their homes to maximise their independence and help them through the process

TASK: Assistive Technology

Provide Polio Survivors with technological and related products and systems which can make living easier and so reduce or eliminate dependency

Three year key target

Make Polio Survivors aware of the products and systems which can enhance independence and work with them to provide appropriate assistive technology

TASK: Aids and Appliances

Provide devices designed to reduce or eliminate pain and fatigue and to increase the capacity of Polio Survivors to function as independently as possible

Three year key target

Each Polio Survivor who feels he or she may need aids or appliances will have a prompt Occupational Therapy assessment carried out and speedy supply of the appropriate items

Other target

Provide an enhanced information stream on products available

TASK: Physiotherapy

Make arrangements for Polio Survivors to receive therapy designed to alleviate pain and ease muscle and joint problems

Three year key target

Polio Survivors, on request, can have access to appropriate treatment to counter, as far as is possible, deterioration arising from Post Polio Syndrome

TASK: Occupational Therapy Services

Make arrangements for Polio Survivors to receive professional advice on lifestyle coping mechanisms, including advice on aids and appliances, assistive technology and adapting their living environments to maximise their mobility and independence

Three year key target

Each Polio Survivor requesting assistance will receive one holistic Occupational Therapy assessment during the three year period or more frequently, if required

TASK: Counselling

Make arrangements for counselling support for Polio Survivors should they require it

Three year key target

Encourage Polio Survivors to avail of appropriate counselling services when they feel they are required and assist them in developing their choice of a suitable counsellor

TASK: Respite Care

Make arrangements for Polio Survivors and their carers to avail of short periods of rest and relief where necessary

Three year key target

Each Polio Survivor who requires a respite break to help sustain his or her living situation will be assisted with arrangements

Other target

Promote the dissemination of information about locations for suitable respite breaks

TASK: Future Service Development

Continue to examine, with suitable expert assistance, the services, treatment and management options which might be made available to Polio Survivors

Three year key target

Evaluate proposed supports and, if appropriate, work with the membership to plan future service delivery

PROGRAMME Advocacy

TASK: Advocacy

The Post Polio Support Group is the national campaigner for the Polio Survivor community and acts to maximise the entitlements available and to ensure that Polio Survivors both individually and as a group are treated with dignity

Three year key target

Continue to develop a relationship with Legislators, Government Departments and their agencies and work with colleague organisations in other states to establish a presence within the European Union to improve conditions for all Polio Survivors

Other targets

Investigate the provision of a personal advocacy service in which the advocate assists in identifying Polio Survivors social service needs and needs relating to their condition
Advocate on behalf of those being infected at present in countries which are still diagnosing new cases of poliomyelitis

TASK: Disability Sector

Take an active role in the development of the Disability Sector working in partnership with stakeholders in like groups in developing services and other supports

Three year key target

Continue to work with disability and other voluntary organisations to improve supports for people with disabilities and to ensure delivery of Government commitments, particularly those under the Disability Act 2005

Other targets

Investigate the creation of linkages with Polio Survivors in Northern Ireland to promote joint working on matters of mutual interest

PROGRAMME Management and Systems

TASK: Policy Support

Work in partnership with relevant Government Departments, their agencies, in particular, the Health Service Executive in developing the necessary supports to maintain the dignity and independence of Polio Survivors

Three year key target

Track developments within the Health Service Executive, and otherwise, as new arrangements are put in place for people with disabilities and ensure that Polio Survivors are catered for in an appropriate fashion.

Other targets

Track appropriate legislation and regulatory and other developments assessing implications for Polio Survivors

TASK: Service Level Agreement and Business Planning

Negotiate service level agreements developing constructive partnerships with the Health Service Executive and others to serve the needs of Polio Survivors. Draw up Business Plans to ensure delivery of the Group’s commitments and put the arrangements in place to ensure purposeful review of the process

Three year key target

Enter formal agreements, as appropriate, to provide a set level of service to Polio Survivors

Other targets

Continuously review the mechanisms to assess the needs of Polio Survivors so that the Group improves the targeting of its supports
Set up administrative systems to improve delivery of services
Improve business planning processes within the Group

TASK: Fundraising

Conduct carefully planned initiatives to raise funds to complement that provided, principally by the Health Service Executive, to allow the Group more scope for its support efforts

Three year key target

Develop the fundraising capacity of the Group both locally and nationally to augment the revenue of the Group and fund additional supports for Polio Survivors

Other targets

Examine new methods of encouraging continued donations
Encourage people to donate to the Group in their wills

TASK: Evaluation, Monitoring and Accountability

Conduct regular oversight and review of all arrangements to support Polio Survivors to improve their effectiveness and efficiency, implementing assurance mechanisms, as required

Three year key target

Assure that Post Polio Support Group systems and administration are being managed as effectively as is possible to satisfy audit requirements, in particular, those laid down by the relevant Government and other funding authorities

Other targets

Governance and Nominations Committee will monitor the progress of Plan Twenty Ten on a six monthly basis and report to the Board
Develop Terms of Reference, guidelines and reporting structures for Committees and for those members with particular responsibilities within the Group
Review policy development and work practices to improve service delivery

TASK: Training and Development

Conduct an active programme of training and development encompassing the Board and Committee members, those members with particular responsibilities within the Group and the executive staff

Three year key target

Provide training and development for members with key roles in the organisation, and for staff to support the delivery of Plan Twenty Ten

Other targets

Develop good practice guidance for members, including the Board and the staff
Review Board composition and development