National CIL Meeting

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National CIL Meeting

• Saturday 23rd October 2004
• Chief ONeills Hotel, Smithfield, Dublin 7.

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Agenda
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Please Turn Off Your Mobile Phone!!
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Profile of Presenters
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Items for Progression

• Training for Managers
• Communications
• Governance
• The Independent Living Movement
• National Advisory Group
• Leader Forum

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1. Training for Managers
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Training for Managers

• National CIL Meetings emphasised that
• Leaders shoulder a lot of responsibility and very
  often feel isolated.
• The practice of Independent Living is not as
  widespread as once believed.
• There is an obvious need for us all to have
  specific training on the practice and development
  of Independent Living.

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Certificate in Disability Studies

• Run as part of the National University of Ireland
  Maynooths Outreach Program.
• Academically oriented course, which addresses
  real Independent Living issues.
• Course Content
• Module 1 Integrated Study Skills and Students
  Support
• Module 2 Models of Disability
• Module 3 Equality and Advocacy
• Module 4 Social Analysis and Environment

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Training Sessions

• First Session
• June 22nd 24th , Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow
• Topics Covered Independent Living in todays
  Ireland, local government structures, and
  governance.
• Second Session
• October 5th 7th Kilcuan, Clarinbridge, Co.
  Galway.
• Topics Covered Models of Disability
• Session on Change Management included and
  delivered.

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Training for Managers The Future

• 14 Managers registered to complete the
  Certificate.
• Session 3 Kilcuan, Clarinbridge, 16th 18th
  November
• Two additional sessions will complete the course
  by early 2005.

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2. Communications
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Website

• New CIL website www.dublincil.org
• Contains information on all CIL activities not
  just CIL Carmichael House.
• Dedicated pages to the services provided by each
  individual CIL.
• Manager only section
• Allows for confidential communications between
  all registered CIL Managers.

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CIL Website

• Advocacy Service
• On-site campaign facilities allow all CIL
  supporters to work together on various online
  campaigns.
• Through the use of an electronic mail users can
  automatically lobby their political
  representatives on current campaign issues.
• E-Letter
• Allows for rapid communication of CIL activity
  news to the wider disability sector.

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Video Assisted Networking Project

• Video-Assisted Networking Project for People with
  Significant Physical and Sensory Disabilities.
• Conducted by CIL Carmichael House in partnership
  with Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI),
  Central Remedial Clinic (CRC), Comhairle, and
  DESSA.
• Purpose
• To improve the ability of a group of people with
  significant physical and sensory disabilities to
  access useful information, services, advice, and
  social connections and to facilitate
  participation in their local communities through
  learning to use video networking technologies.

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Video-Assisted Networking

• Main outcomes for people with significant
  disabilities
• Participation in Board and Committee meetings via
  video-networking.
• Increased access to information relating to
  events in their local community.
• Increased opportunity to learn about technology
  and the significant positive impacts it can have
  on their lives.

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Project Deliverables

• 20 month project, incorporating 5 key stages.
• Stage 1 Planning
• Identification of suitable participants by
  Steering Group. Focus on Dublin, Donegal and
  Clare.
• Stage 2 Placement and Testing of Equipment and
  Technology.
• Buying and installing technology in homes of
  participants and CIL/CRC offices.
• Stage 3 Networking Initial Trial.
• Training sessions organised.

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Project Deliverables

• Stage 4 Networking Pilot
• Proposal of programme and events distributed to
  participants.
• Stage 5 Evaluation and Review
• Where do we go from here?

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3. Governance
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Governance

• Independence a much valued concept by all CILs.
• However all governing boards are expected to
  represent the public trust and ensure that the
  organisation carries out the purposes for which
  it was established in a responsible and
  accountable fashion.
• Many individual board members may require support
  and guidance to ensure they are carrying out
  their duties in an appropriate fashion.

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Roles and Responsibilities

• Role of the Board
• Set direction of organisation.
• Support organisation activities.
• Maintain organisation oversight.

• Responsibilities of Individual Members
• Duty of Care
• Duty of Loyalty
• Duty of Obedience

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Governance Training Initiatives

• Aiming to develop a partnership with Comhairle
  and the Health Board to run training programmes
  on the importance and implementation of good
  governance practices.
• Target groups for these sessions will include
  members, Board of Directors, and Managers.
• Timeframe
• Workshops will run in December January in each
  region of Ireland.

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4. Independent Living Movement
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The Movement

• 2003
• Strasbourg Freedom Drive
• EU Campaigns
• Dail Eireann Campaign
• Solidarity Rally

• 2004
• EU and Local Election Campaigns
• Launch of Inside Im Dancing

• Focus now on 2005
• Pride Day celebration of all we have achieved.
  Will take place in the early half of 2005.
• Strasbourg Mark 2

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Strasbourg Mark 2

• 2003 thirty-two Irish people made the long
  journey to Strasbourg in support of our
  Strasbourg Demands
• 2005 Strasbourg Demands revisited and brought
  back to our political representatives.
• Strasbourg reunion will take place on the 3rd of
  December with an agenda developed to support our
  new campaign.
• Outcomes from this meeting will be brought back
  to all CILs, in the New Year, for further
  development.

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5. National Advisory Group (NAG)
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Second National CIL Meeting

• Points Raised by CIL Representatives
• We need terms of reference
• Comprising? Health boards, Comhairle, DFI, ADM,
  PwDI, NDA it will need some binding agent
• Positively This offers the opportunity to share
  the independent living philosophy with agencies
  and organisations
• Personnel involved should be at a senior level,
  relevant to the work of CILs and be able to
  achieve a balance possibly at least
  mid-management level.
• The CILs would advise as to need from committee
  members to relay to their organisations or
  agencies.
• We need CIL friendly nominees who would be
  supportive
• Power balance focus on the needs of CIL and the
  independent living philosophy

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Second National CIL Meeting contd.

• Points Raised
• How to communicate
• Check back with the broader CIL community
• How do CILs feed in?
• Structures are necessary
• Why are there only 3 CILs represented? How many
  members are appropriate for the committee?
• There seems to be a bit of a Big Brother aspect
  to the committee
• Are there different philosophies among the
  different CILs?
• Is there really a need for this committee or will
  it be only a talking shop?

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What Has Been Done to Date?

• Originally
• Saturday, February 7th 2004, Tullamore Court
  Hotel
• 17th April 2004, Horse and Jockey, Tipperary
• Followed by
• National Advisory Group (NAG) Meeting, 19th
  August 2004
• National Advisory Committee 30th September 2004
• Terms of reference
• This following is a synopsis of a draft document
  written as a result of the two meetings held on
  August 19th and September 30th, 2004. The
  document is unfinished and is currently awaiting
  input from you the stakeholders today.

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Vision Statement

• The Independent Living philosophy is a central
  NAG value, and will be central to our strategic
  plan
• The ultimate purpose of the National Advisory
  Group (NAG) is to ensure that the support and
  resource needs of people with disabilities are
  met.

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Purpose of the Group

• To bring relevant people and organisations
  together in a co-ordinated and cohesive way to
  develop ideas and avoid replication of
  work/effort.
• To write a strategic plan.
• To provide a forum for people with disabilities
  to highlight and share skills, experience and
  knowledge with other relevant groups and
  agencies.
• To promote a shared understanding of CILs and the
  philosophy and ethos of Independent Living.
• To develop a communications strategy around the
  work of the Group and the development of the
  strategic plan.
• To champion the strategic plan to ensure it
  becomes operational.

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Current Members of Interim Group

• Ann Hegarty Meitheal
• Susan Flynn CIL, Carmichael House
• Michael Nestor CIL Offaly
• Toni Gleeson DFI RSO Mid West region
• Helen LaHert Comhairle, Social Policy Manager
• Martin Naughton DFI RSO
• Don Bailey Treasurer, CIL, Carmichael House
• Kathleen McCann Action Research Development,
  Carmichael House
• Derval Sheridan Communications Officer CIL,
  Carmichael House
• Ann Marie Flanagan Disabled People of Clare
  (DPOC)
• Michael Ryan Development Manager CIL Dublin 7,
  Blanchardstown Balbriggan) Shared membership
  between Michael Ryan and Melanie Plesker (Sligo
  CIL)
• Interested Nicola Meacle Cork CIL and Alice
  Griffin DESSA
• NOTE Meitheal has been contracted to work with
  the NAG group for the duration of the planning
  process. Ann Hegarty will write up the Strategic
  plan for the group.

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Today

• Now that the progress of this group is presented
  to you here today, anyone wishing to join the
  group will be very welcome.
• In order to keep numbers to a manageable level
  for our facilitator however, if more than one or
  two more people are interested, they will have to
  decide amongst themselves as to who will join the
  group.

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Duration of Membership

• At present it is envisaged that membership of the
  current group will last until February 26th,
  2005, when a final draft of the Strategic Plan is
  scheduled to be completed.
• It is planned that on completion of the strategic
  plan, any sitting group member may come off the
  group and a new NAG group will be formed in order
  to implement the strategic plan.

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Challenge

• Finally, following the completion of the
  strategic plan next February 26th 2005, when the
  purpose of this particular group is fulfilled,
  each group member going forward must ensure that
  they support the work of the strategic plan. Each
  must champion the plan and ensure that it becomes
  operational.

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Communication

• All group members communicate with each other via
  an Email distribution list
• Feedback mechanisms for CILs
• Michael Ryan will circulate a synopsis of each
  meeting to the CIL managers. He will also give
  the group any manager feedback.
• Derval Sheridan will electronically communicate
  information from the National CIL meeting on
  October 23rd, in order to ensure that any CILs
  not present, as well as any other interested
  parties will be fully informed. This will appear
  in the News section of the CIL website for the
  moment until the information becomes part of a
  process or structure. Derval will also look at
  linking into existing relevant parties by
  contributing to websites and/or newsletters of
  organisations such as FAS, Health Boards etc.
• Michael Nestor will communicate the progress of
  the group to the chairs of all CILs. Due to
  commitments, Don Bailey sat in for Michael on the
  meeting of 30 Sept.

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Where to From Here?

• 5 6 November (two full days) 9 December (half
  day) January 21 22 (two full days) February
  10 (half day) Development of the Strategic Plan
• 26 February, 2005 Final Draft
• Go back to the stakeholders for ratification and
  approval.
• Redraft if necessary and move forward with plan.

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Discussion Points

• Does this feedback allay you fears?
• Do you have any questions?
• Would anyone here like to get involved in the
  interim process?

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6. Leader Forum (N.L.F.)
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A National Leader Forum

• A National Leader Forum is vital to the progress
  of Independent Living for all Leaders throughout
  Ireland, working to give a voice to Leaders
  thinking around the country, to ensure each user
  of PA services has a say in the delivery of and
  quality of service provision, to develop a solid
  lobby group and ensure the barriers of isolation
  faced by individual users are broken down

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Desired Features, Activities, and Roles of N.L.F.

• Promoting the philosophy of Independent Living.
• Communications
• Standards and Guidelines
• Education, training, development and support.
• Equality
• Co-ordination
• Campaigning
• Lobbying
• Ownership
• Accountability
• Resources

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Promoting the Philosophy of Independent Living

• Provides a powerful, united national voice.
• Voice of Independent Living inputs into service.
• Raise public awareness.
• Develops the philosophy of Independent Living.
• Provides an opportunity for leaders to think out
  the relationship between recommendations made and
  the demand for direct payments option.

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Communications

• Establish good communication methods.
• Provides a listening forum.
• Provides an opportunity for networking.
• Utilises numerous communication channels.
• Provides for a buddy system.
• Improves communications between service providers
  and service users.

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Standards and Guidelines

• Sets out standards, strategies and structures for
  nationwide PA services.
• Provides templates, models, and codes of
  practice.
• Creates framework document for leader services.
• Increases Leader role in monitoring and
  appraisal.
• Draws up job descriptions.
• Provides tips on accessing services and
  resources.
• Provides guidance on the industrial relations
  implications of managerial responsibility.

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Education, Training, Development, and Support

• Identifies and addresses barriers to
  participation for Leaders.
• Develops ongoing training for Leaders.
• Provides for peer monitoring and development.
• Identifies need for Leader involvement in PA
  training.
• Focuses on sharing knowledge, skills, and
  expertise.
• Tailors training to individual needs.
• Recognises need for Leaders to have access to
  advocates.
• Focuses on building confidence and developing
  skills.

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Equality

• Recognises and embraces diversity among people
  with disabilities.
• Equality-proofing
• Recognises that the NLF needs to include Leaders
  outside of the usual participants.

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Co-ordination

• Forum for information sharing.
• Possible role for National Co-ordinator
• Requires NLF to participate in agenda setting for
  Leaders and wider disability sector.
• Identifies and articulates needs.
• Requires a National Co-ordinator in each CIL.
• Advocates setting up both local and regional
  structures.
• Peer support networks.

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Campaigning and Lobbying

• Lobby for a rights based approach and the
  provision of a mainstreamed PA service throughout
  the country.
• Recognises constraints placed upon the service by
  funders.
• Highlights the fact that the first point in
  service provision should be the quality of life.

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Ownership and Accountability

• Need to be accountable and independent from
  service providers.
• Must be given a mandate from Leaders and
  Independent Living Movement.
• Need for appropriate ownership and control.

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Resources

• Must have adequate administrative and financial
  support.
• Needs the support of a community development
  worker.
• Requires the support of all Leaders and the wider
  Independent Living Movement.

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Discussion Points

• Commitment from Leaders.
• Dual Mandate issue.
• Ownership.
• Top-down or Bottom-up?
• Membership and Structure.
• NLF and the National Advisory Group.

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Conclusions

• Evaluation Survey
• Survey will be distributed to your for the
  purposes of evaluating the progress made to date
  on ILCS reintegration.
• Will take the form of a postal questionnaire.
• Aim to discover how you, the stakeholders, feel
  the process has progressed and how it can be
  developed in 2005.

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Conclusions

• Requests for information
• Derval Sheridan (dervalsheridan_at_dublincil.org)
• Contact details
• Center for Independent Living,
• Carmichael House,
• North Brunswick Street,
• Dublin 7.
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Emailcildub_at_iol.ie