Annual Review - Home - Sense Scotland...Neil Farquharson Honorary Trustee Roy Cox, OBE Duncan Tannahill Neil Farquharson ... Simpson Colin Hetherington David Newton Angela Clements

Sense Scotland Annual Review 2017-18 1

AnnualReview

2017-18


Welcome

Life is never dull at Sense Scotlandand I’m delighted to report backto you on another challenging and eventful year.

One of the great highlights for me has been the official opening of TouchBase Ayrshire, by Mrs Chris Weir of The Weir Charitable Trust. This fantastic resource for the Ayrshire community is a welcome addition to the TouchBase family. With improvements to TouchBase Glasgow complete and as TouchBase Lanarkshire continues to grow, plans for TouchBase Dundee are now in the pipeline.

We know, of course, that it’s our people, not simply the bricks and mortar that make the real difference in people’s lives. Our vision of supporting children and adults to live meaningful and independent lives is made possible because staff and volunteers are passionate about the people we support achieving their own ambitions.

Roy Cox OBE,Chair of Sense Scotland

They are the reason so many of our services throughout the country are recognised for the quality of service they provide. As a Board, we are equally passionate. This year, we have taken proactive steps to protect those frontline services and to secure the future for the families and people we support.

The partnership with ENABLE Scotland, which we announced in March 2018, will deliver substantial savings as we share innovation, property and resources. These savings can be re-invested in improving the lives of disabled people and the dedicated staff who care for them.

Both ENABLE Scotland and Sense Scotland will retain their individual identities, but will operate under a ‘Group’ structure, thought to be the first of its kind in the social care sector.

Someone who was a real champion of quality and care in our services was our dear friend and trustee Isobel Allan MBE, who sadly we lost at the turn of the year. Isobel was a great supporter of Sense Scotland and a tireless campaigner for our community and for all carers. She is sadly missed.


Board of Trusteesand sub committeesRoy Cox, OBE Chairman

Duncan Tannahill Vice Chair and Chair of Audit & Risk Committee

Gerard Seenan Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee

Dr. Usman Rehman Chair of Nominations Committee

Gary Simpson

Colin Hetherington

David Newton

Angela Clements

John Richards, MBE

Ann McIvor

John McMillan

Suzanne Clark

Neil Farquharson Honorary Trustee

Roy Cox, OBE Duncan Tannahill

Neil Farquharson

Gerard Seenan

Dr. Usman Rehman Gary Simpson Colin Hetherington

David Newton Angela Clements John Richards, MBE

Ann McIvor John McMillan Suzanne Clark

Andy KerrCEO, Sense Scotland

This period has been full of things to celebrate, such as maintaining high Care Inspectorate grades and seeing the people we support get the best out of their time with us – whether they’re enjoying our Festival of Fun in Fife or finding their rhythm during a Sensatronic music session. The diversity of opportunities and support available throughout Sense Scotland amazes me every day.

As well as being a year of achievements and celebration, it has also been a challenging year, as we’ve experienced the dual pressures of increasing demand for services and ever-tightening and reducing budgets.

These pressures have called for some tough decisions to be made and, in Aberdeen, with great reluctance, we handed back our service of 17 years to the local authority as we could no longer deliver the quality of care within the budget available.

We also moved away from the residential care home model and worked hard to find positive outcomes for the nine residents of our Overbridge Care home in Glasgow. I’m pleased that the majority of our residents have chosen to stay with us and that we have been able to find new homes that suit each individual.

One of the strengths of Sense Scotland is our ability to be brave and to think outside the box and our decision to partner with ENABLE Scotland will, I’m sure, bear fruit in the near future while safeguarding the vital frontline services valued by so many families and the people we support.

Towards the end of the year we were visited by assessors from Quality Scotland as part of our submission for the ‘Recognised for Excellence Award’ – Europe’s most widely-recognised business award. I am delighted to reveal we were awarded Five Stars, the top ranking possible in this category, demonstrating our commitment to quality and innovation.


About usOur vision is for the people we work with to live meaningful and independent lives in a world which supports them to achieve their own ambitions.

We work in partnership to support and promote the interests of children, young people and adults who have communication support needs. These needs arise from a range of disabilities including, but not limited to, deafblindness, autism, sensory impairment, learning or physical disability, often against a backdrop of complex health care needs.

We deliver services which provide choice and continuity across all age groups and work closely with the individuals we support, their families and carers and with professionals working in our field, aiming at all times to exceed expectations.

We provide services in a variety of ways using a person-centred approach, meeting the needs of the individual in a number of environments and settings such as respite, housing support, day support and independent living.



14We work with

local authorities toprovide care servicesfor disabled children

and adults.

200families through our

Early Years and Family Advisory services.

We impact on thelives of more than

18We have

charity shopsacross Scotland.685

We providehigh quality

services to over

people directly through our

registered services.


68Our

One Giant Leapprogramme is helping

young people withtransition from school

to adult life.

365dedicated volunteers

support the workwe do.

22This year

we helped

families enjoy a break through our High Days & Holidays Fund

as well as offering respite inour houses in Blantyre,

Helensburghand Dundee.


Our SuccessesWe strive to provide the best possible service to each and every person we work with and we are continually looking to improve.

One of the ways we identify areas for action is through our Stakeholder Survey. In our 2017 survey a massive 96% of respondents believed that the level of care and support was good, very good or excellent.

We continue to receive very positive accreditations and verifications from bodies such as the Care Inspectorate, who are responsible for regulating care services, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority who assess our Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) programme.

We check our work against Europe’s most widely used business excellence framework – the EFQM ‘Recognised for Excellence’ Award – demonstrating our commitment to quality. Our 2017-18 submission for this was recently awarded five stars – the top category of accolade and we were awarded a special category award for Leading with Vision, Inspiration and Integrity.

Our Learning and Development team facilitated a number of SVQs for staff and, for those who use our services, there was a significant rise in the number of people we support being accredited through the ASDAN qualifications scheme.

QualityAssuranceProgramme

This publication is available

in alternative formats on request.

Oursurveysaid ...

Stakeholder

Satisfaction Survey

Feedback 2017

“The overwhelming theme was of a staff

team who arecaring, friendlyand dedicated.”

Surveyrespondent

Team of the Year 2017-18, Cruden Bay Service

9Sense Scotland Annual Review 2017-18

It was great to see our Cruden Bay staff team lift the coveted ‘Team of the Year’ accolade at our annual Staff and Volunteer Awards in recognition of supporting people with professionalism and a personal touch.

They epitomised this when a man they support needed hospital treatment. Staff volunteered to stay overnight with him, covering extra shifts to help him through a difficult experience. His treatment would not have been possible without staff coming together and the experience has ultimately brought the team closer together.

Recognised for Excellence Award 2017-18

ASDANAwards,

2017


TouchBase Ayrshire opensTouchBase Ayrshire in Ardrossan was completed in June 2017, much to the delight of everyone involved in the journey to create this very special community facility.

The people we support and their families, were among those consulted for ideas and it was great to see those ideas come to life as the building took shape.

Indeed Mrs Chris Weir, Trustee of the Weir Charitable Trust, one of the project’s major funders, said at the official opening on Friday 29th September: “This is your creation of which you should be justifiably proud.”

TouchBase Ayrshire provides specialised services, including arts and music in a welcoming, safe and accessible environment, for disabled children, young people and adults.

The £850,000 invested in TouchBase Ayrshire has significantly enhanced the provision of services, meaning that the people we support across Ayrshire now have a fantastic community resource that offers them many opportunities for personal development.



Discover our community resources Since putting down its roots two years ago TouchBase Lanarkshire has re-established itself in the community, and allowed the people we support there to flourish.

The addition of a new garden, thanks to a grant from Postcode Local Trust, has further enhanced the sensory experience for individuals – as they can tend to raised beds, create windchimes or potter about in the new shed.


DundeeSense Scotland has had a presence in Dundee for some time and this past year we have secured a site in the city, which will become our fourth TouchBase.

We’ve been exploring the thoughts, dreams and ideas of staff, individuals and families on what they would like to see and we are excited to see the plans take shape to deliver TouchBase Dundee over the next two years.

Meanwhile, our original TouchBase in Glasgow, goes from strength to strength, recently undergoing a mini makeover. This gives groups the opportunity for new learning such as running a hair and beauty salon.

Glasgow


Our Voiceis heardThe Our Voice group asks people who use our services what is important to them. Members can make their views known, not only to Sense Scotland but also to local and national government and other organisations. And they do a good job of it, covering everything this year from making transport more accessible to money issues and tackling hate crime.

Their annual conference took place in April at TouchBase Glasgow and saw group members lead workshops or help with administrative and volunteering duties with Sense Scotland staff taking a back seat. The conference featured a wealth of workshops, wellbeing sessions and the ever-popular disco night.

As well as holding elections for group representatives, members felt they needed a stronger connection with Sense Scotland’s board. After finding out more about the work of our Trustees, they made a case for being part of that process.

Since January 2018 Our Voice’s Gerard Simpson has met regularly with Chief Executive Andy Kerr to relay information and ideas between the Board and the Our Voice group.

The group felt strongly that Sense Scotland should sign up to the Charter for Involvement – 12 principles which advocate for people with communication support needs.

Members worked closely with the National Involvement Network and management at Sense Scotland signed the charter in October 2017.


Making the leap from school to adulthood can be challenging. That’s why our One Giant Leap (OGL) programme has been such a success.

Initially set up in Glasgow, the programme is run by members with support from staff and volunteers, giving young people the chance to take part in activities like art, music and sports. The aim is to learn life and employability skills which are transferable, by participating in developmental and social activities. There’s a strong focus on peer support, building resilience through friendships and learning new skills – but mostly it’s about socialising with friends.

Thanks to a £618,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund, during the last 12 months we’ve grown OGL across Scotland. New groups in Dundee, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire have been formed with new members having lots of fun getting to know each other and making new friends.

One parent sums up the importance of the group:

“This period has been like jumping off a cliff in to the unknown. The support One Giant Leap has given my son has helped put things in perspective.”


Music to our earsWhether it’s playing the piano at TouchBase Glasgow, enjoying individual music sessions or pulling together events like Summer Sensations, expression through music is an integral and important part of the person-centred services we provide.

Our music tutors have many success stories. Shy people transforming in to well-rounded performers; children engaging with others because of music; the smile when someone feels a vibration or makes a noise playing an instrument.

In 2017 our Sensatronic project continued to hit all the right notes with people from Edinburgh to Fort William with free sessions to explore electronic music, using everything from ‘pianos’ made from bananas and instruments made with bike wheels and pizza boxes. The electronic ‘Flexi Lab Kit’ allows sound to be made through touch.

One parent said: “[My son] always enjoyed music, but we’ve never really known how to channel it. This has really boosted his confidence. Thanks for leading us down a new and exciting path.”

The visual arts have always been central to Sense Scotland’s practice too. A grant from Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund enabled us to employ freelance artists to embed the arts in TouchBase Lanarkshire and open up art activities to families across North and South Lanarkshire.

One parent said: “The tutors are fantastic, they ‘get’ the kids and their abilities.”

Tutors have also spent time establishing an arts programme in TouchBase Ayrshire.


Towards the end of 2017 we were commissioned to deliver three training sessions for elected members across Scotland, prompting them to think about how services and other communications can become more accessible.

It is a problem many of the people we support experience, and so it was no surprise that three individuals we support in Dundee came forward to be part of the Partners in Community (Dundee) project, which saw them trained as facilitators.

As well as learning about human rights and equalities the trio gained increased skills, knowledge and confidence and their experience has given them a better understanding of their

own rights with one, for example, asking a health authority for more accessible appointment letters.

The team then shared their learning, rolling out training to more than 100 people across Tayside.

Training more Partners in CommunicationGood communication is at the heart of everything we do. We strive to ensure we work inclusively and we encourage others to do the same.

Our Partners in Communication team deliver training, advice and resources in the hope that other organisations are ready, willing and able to engage with people who have a communication support need.

The team delivered Inclusive Communication training to the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in an information exchange, which involved some Sense Scotland staff receive training on how to support people through bereavement.

Sense Scotland Annual Review 2017-18 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2017-18 18 19

Our shops brought in more than £1million in the past year and are just one of the ways Sense Scotland generates much-needed funds. Our fundraising efforts have continued despite a difficult climate.

Our charity shops in the East have followed in the footsteps of their West counterparts by meeting all criteria to earn the Revolve quality kitemark, operated by Zero Waste Scotland early in 2018.

This quality kitemark recognises our commitment to sustainable retail and means customers can be confident the items they buy are safe, good

quality and fit for purpose. Buying goods from our shops supports our work with the people we support and their families and helps reduce the impact of waste on the environment.

We raised more than £18,000 asking people to ‘throw back a sponge’ by sponsoring our “Super Sponge” communication sessions, which gently introduce children with complex sensory impairment to bath-time...using sponges of course!

Face-to-face fundraising was brought in-house, which has given us greater control over costs, training and being able to connect with the general public about the work we do.

How we raise fundsCorporate partners played their part too with staff at accountancy firmMazars cycling from Glasgow to London and raising £21,000 in the process.

Legacies continue to bring a much-needed source of income for Sense Scotland and we are grateful that people remember us in their will.

Applications to grants and trusts continue to bring in considerable funds which allow us to achieve great results for the people we support. We are indebted to donors for their support, financial and otherwise, without whom this would not be possible.

Photo: Delphine Porre


Our people remain our greatest asset and it’s fitting that this is where the majority of our spending goes.

We have placed much emphasis on staff recruitment and retention, training and ensuring there are career pathways for people to progress. We have continued to invest in Learning and Development to ensure staff have the necessary skills to carry out their role effectively while meeting their registration requirements under the Scottish Social Services Council.

The introduction of the Scottish Living Wage has put extra pressure on budgets, but is a principle we are committed to, as is our roll out of new staff contracts which improve conditions and benefits for all employees who work contracted hours with us. We have worked closely with our recognised trade union Unite the Union and our Partnership Forum to improve pay and benefits.

OurPeople


The hard work and commitment shown by volunteers is celebrated in our annual Staff and Volunteer Awards, which rightly celebrate those who have gone ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty. It is also an opportunity to recognise long service and congratulate those who gained new skills and qualifications in the last 12 months.

After a short break we reintroduced the Sense Scotland Business School, which saw around 80 staff in management/leadership roles work together with an external provider to examine their mind-set, goals and values in terms of leadership. Whilst there is always more work to do, feedback about our positive culture and ‘can do’ attitude has encouraged those in lead roles within the organisation.

We have a volunteer for every day of the year – and those 365 people are vital to our shops (where the majority work) and to the programmes which provide added value support to families and young people. Indeed, some of our programmes, like the Early Years ‘Stay and Play’ sessions for parents/carers and their children, could not happen without the input of volunteers.

We are always looking to grow our volunteer base, offering training and support and the opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people.


May 2017It was a busy year for our resident dancer Ian Johnstone, who travelledall over the UK and beyond to perform, collaborating with leading artists. His hard work was recognised when he won the Creative Achievement category in the Learning Disability Awards, organised by the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability.


A Year atJuly 2017Ten young people aged between 12 and 16 boarded the Alba Venturer, the Ocean Youth Trust’s 70 foot Bermudan Ketch, and set sail from Oban. During the five-day trip the members of the Sibling Support Group, including two young volunteers, learned about teamwork, confidence and – of course – sailing, gaining their Royal Yachting Association ‘Start Yachting’ Certificate in the process.

Sense ScotlandJune 2017A terrific line up of bands, all cultivated by or related to Sense Scotland in some way, took to the stage at the annual Summer Sensations festival at TouchBase Glasgow. The Sensatronics, The TouchBeats, Midland Bluebird and The Rave-Ward performedat the free public event.


A Year atAugust 2017Using visual arts is a core part of Sense Scotland’s practice and it was great to welcome freelance artists to TouchBase Lanarkshire in Hamilton to embed an arts programme. The work was possible thanks to a grant from Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund.

September 2017More than 100 people attended the official opening of TouchBase Ayrshire, celebrating the fact that families have access to a great facility.


A Year at October 2017Volunteers from Barclays and Barnett and Waddington braved the adverse weather to help weed, build, plan and tidy up our allotment at Bellahouston to get it ready for the forthcoming season. This kind of support is invaluable, allowing our groups to get outdoors and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

November 2017A day of reflection, and motivation, was on the agenda for those attending the staff Leaders’ Conference as we looked back over what the Business School taught us and forward to how we can apply this new learning.


December 2017Children supported by Sense Scotland woke up to an extra special Christmas, thanks to a lorry load of toys delivered to the charity. The Emmie Smillie Charity Foundation, which was set up to support organisations within the Glasgow area, donated the toys to Sense Scotland which the Family Advisory Service distributed to disabled children and families we work with.

January 2018Our close working relationship with our recognised trade union, Unite the Union, was cemented further in the signing of a refreshed andup to date Recognition Agreement.


February 2018Creative Scotland announced almost £40,000 funding for our flagship Sensatronic project, helping increase access to digital music sessions across Scotland for young people who have additional support needs and who face other barriers.

March 2018Sense Scotland’s shops in the East achieved Revolve Accreditation, meaning all shops sell safe, quality and fit for purpose items, affirming our commitment to sustainable retail.


As demand for our services increases - and financial resources become increasingly stretched - we have taken the bold step of creating an innovative group structure with fellow disability charity ENABLE Scotland.

Announced in March 2018, we are joining together to protect and grow frontline social care services across Scotland.

Thought to be the first of its kind in the social care sector in Scotland, we believe it will help accelerate change in improving the lives of disabled people and the dedicated staff who care for them.

Extensive independent analysis estimates that by working in partnership, the charities will deliver substantial savings and efficiencies available to re-invest in frontline services.

The venture will see both charities share innovation, property and resources in an overarching group structure to enable them to reach even more disabled people throughout Scotland.

Both Sense Scotland and ENABLE Scotland will retain their individual identities and relationships with the people we support, their families, and supporters.

A new partnership

Looking to the future . . .• Deliver the new partnership with ENABLE Scotland and realise the benefits

• Retain current services and grow sustainably

• Continue to invest in staff skills

• Continuously improve Care Inspectorate grades

• Focus on services in stress

• Effectively recruit and retain staff

• Reduce our agency use and costs

• Develop our successful shops

• Deliver TouchBase Dundee

• Improve our Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop our Board

• Improve our links to key political stakeholders nationally and locally

• Hold a Family Conference every two years



ThankYou

Trusts

A M Pilkington Charitable TrustAlexander Moncur TrustAndrew Paton’s Charitable TrustASDA FoundationBellahouston Bequest FundCallendar Charitable TrustColumba Charitable Trust

D.M. Thomas FoundationEmmie Smillie Charity FoundationHighgate Charitable TrustMEB Charitable TrustMiss Agnes H. Hunter’s TrustMiss Anne R. Jolly’s Charitable TrustMiss E. C. Hendry’s Charitable TrustMrs J. T. Isles-Denny’s Charitable TrustNancy Brown’s Charitable TrustPeter Brough Bequest FundPeter Coats Charitable TrustProvincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow and West of ScotlandR.K.T. Harris Charitable TrustSaints and Sinners Club of ScotlandSir James Miller Edinburgh TrustSuburban Taverns Limited Charitable TrustTalteg LimitedThe Ann Jane Green TrustThe Ecton Charitable Trust

Sense Scotland would like to thank our trusts and funders for continued support over the last year.


The Grand Lodge of ScotlandThe Iris Spink FundThe Jennie S Gordon Memorial FoundationThe J.T.H. Charitable TrustThe Kuenssberg Charitable FoundationThe Leng Charitable TrustThe Martin Connell Charitable TrustThe Mickel FundThe Mugdock Children’s TrustThe Paul Charitable TrustThe Penpont Charitable TrustThe R J Larg Family TrustThe Ronald Miller FoundationThe St Katharine’s FundThe Sylvia Aitken Charitable TrustThe W.M. Sword Charitable TrustW A Cargill FundW.G. Forsyth FundWestern Recreation TrustWilliam S. Phillips’ Fund

Grants

Big Lottery Fund Investing in Communities

Creative Scotland: Youth Music Initiative

Creative Scotland: Open Project Fund

Glasgow City Council Integrated Fund

GSK Local Ayrshire Community Awards

Scottish Children’s Lottery

Scottish Government: Children, Young People & Families Early Intervention Fund

Scottish Government: Equality Fund

Scottish Natural Heritage

Sense Scotland is a company limited by guarantee.Registered in Scotland No: 147570Registered Scottish Charity No: SC022097

Find out more about Sense Scotland:phone 0300 330 9292

email [email protected]

visit www.sensescotland.org.uk

@SenseScotland SenseScotlandCharity SenseScotlandCharity

Patrons: HRH The Princess Royal and The Duchess of SutherlandHonorary Patron: Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore LLD DL.

Central Region,West Region& Head OfficeTouchBase Glasgow43 Middlesex StreetGlasgow, G41 1EEPhone: 0300 330 9292

East RegionOffice 7Castleblair Business CentreFullerton RoadQueensway Industrial EstateGlenrothes, KY7 5QR

Phone: 01592 752005

North East RegionThe GatehouseQuarry RoadNorthfield Industrial EstateAberdeen, AB16 5UU

Phone: 01224 695510

Tayside RegionSangobeg House4 Francis StDundee, DD3 8HH

Phone: 01382 883520

This publication is availablein alternative formats on request.

Annual Review - Home - Sense Scotland...Neil Farquharson Honorary Trustee Roy Cox, OBE Duncan Tannahill Neil Farquharson ... Simpson Colin Hetherington David Newton Angela Clements

Documents