Section 4

Structure of the organisation

4.1    Legal form

The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland was established in 1963 with its incorporation under the Companies Acts as a company limited by guarantee (Registered Number 20165).  The charitable status of the Foundation has been recognised by the Revenue Commissioners (Charities Registration Number CHY 5484).

As a registered company, the Foundation is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association and is subject to the relevant provisions of the Companies Acts.  These set out the primary objective of the Foundation and the regulations regarding the Board of Trustees, annual general meeting, accounts, audit and other related matters.

4.2    Board of Trustees

The Foundation operates under a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the overall direction of the organisation and for ensuring that the Foundation’s affairs are managed in accordance with relevant legislation and the principles of good governance.

The present composition of the Board of Trustees is as follows:

Kevin Wylie (Chairman)

Eugene Callan

Laurence Crowley

Joe Dunne

Dr. Pauline Faughnan

John Guinan

Dan Herlihy

Chief Justice Ronan Keane

Rosaleen McDonagh

Tom O’Connor

Dr. Mary Redmond

David Waters

The Board, and individual trustees, are contactable through the Foundation’s Central Office.  See Appendix 1 for details.

4.3    Chief Executive Officer & Central Office management team

Chief Executive Officer:  The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the day-to-day operation and leadership of the organisation.

Central Office Management Team:  The CEO is assisted by the Central Office management team to whom he delegates responsibilities in respect of various functional areas - see Table 4.1.

Functions:  The functions carried out by the CEO and Central Office are summarised below:

·        Provision of support and advice to the Board of Trustees

·        Liaison and negotiation with the Department of Health & Children regarding overall funding of services

·        Liaison and negotiation with senior Health Board management regarding funding and development of Cheshire services each Health Board region/area.

·        Liaison at national level with other voluntary and statutory agencies concerned with providing services to people with physical and sensory disabilities.

·        Collating and analysis of management information relating to each Cheshire Centre.

·        Preparation of the Foundation’s consolidated financial statements.

·        Management of the strategic planning process and related organisation development initiatives.

·        Co-ordination of service user protection programmes.

·        Management of Freedom of Information requirements.

·        Co-ordination of Health & Safety requirements.

·        Co-ordination of quality development initiatives.

·        Co-ordination of training and development programmes.

·        Provision of support to service managers in relation to adult protection, finance, human resource management, health & safety, training, etc.

Standing committees:  A number of standing committees exist within the Foundation to help manage aspects of the organisation’s work.  These are listed below:

·        Eastern Regional Committee

·        Southern Regional Committee

·        Consumers Committee

·        Managers Group

·        National Health & Safety Committee

Please contact the Foundation’s Central Office for more details on the work of these committees.

4.4    Cheshire Centres

Cheshire Foundation services are delivered through 14 centres, 4 in Dublin and the remainder throughout the country.  Table 4.1 gives a summary of each Centre.

Each Centre is managed by a Manager who reports to the CEO.  In some areas, local, voluntary management committees give advice and assistance to the Manager and staff in providing quality services to the people who live in or use the Centre.

Each Cheshire Centre is funded through its local Health Board together with contributions from service users.  Agreed service plans are in place for all services.  Some voluntary fund raising is still required to meet core service costs but the Foundation is constantly working to replace this shortfall with guaranteed revenue funding from statutory sources.

Functions:  The functions carried out by Cheshire Centres are summarised below:

·        Provision of supported living services

·        Provision of respite services (if available in the Centre)

·        Provision of outreach services (if available from the Centre)

·        Provision of other services where resources and funding allow, e.g., training, day services, etc.

·        Management of the financial affairs of the Centre.

·        Liaison and negotiation with local Health Board disability services and community services staff.

·        Liaison with other voluntary and statutory agencies within the locality regarding service provision.

·        Consultation with service users regarding the services provided and possible enhancements/future developments.

·        Negotiation with staff and staff representatives regarding matters of local concern.

·        Management of staff training, health, safety & welfare requirements.

·        Reporting of management, service and financial information to Central Office.

·        Management of Community Employment Schemes (where in place in the Centre)

·        Management of European & international volunteering schemes (where relevant to the Centre)

Table 4.1  Organisational Profile