EMPOWERING PRACTITIONERS TO PROTECT
Dear Members,
Many of you have asked and wondered what has been happening to and within PAVAUK over the last few months. There have been a number of developments, and this letter is part of a strategy to keep you up-to-date with what is happening within PAVAUK, but also how PAVAUK is representing a practitioner voice in a variety of forums addressing issues relating to the protection of vulnerable adults.
In September 2007, the administration and secretariat moved from the Isle of Wight to Devon,this is the only address which should be contacted concerning PAVAUK. This includes, MEMBERSHIPS, JAKES JUSTICE, ENQUIRIES, in fact ANYTHING.
As you will be aware, we had been working for some time on a new Constitution, better fitted to the new environment in which PAVAUK has to operate. At the May 2008 AGM, the new constitution was adopted with statutory notices sent to The Charity Commissioners. The new Constitution introduced a Board of Trustees who were elected at the AGM instead of trustees and executive members.
The Board will co-opt other members on the basis of their specialist knowledge and skills, but they will have no voting rights.
There are exciting plans to continue to support front line practitioners with two newsletters a year, an on-line alert system of new consultations, articles etc relating to vulnerable adult protection, examples of good practice, news of activities of local PAVAUK groups, details of the input from members and trustees to a range of organisations and consultations and at least one event a year.
We had investigated the possibility of establishing a “virtual forum” for members to discuss issues, seek advice, gain peer support etc, but this is very much a project for the future because of the possible staffing and cost implications. A pilot study has in fact shown that the use of such a facility would be similar to other charities and organisations findings in that they are used very little. As a registered charity the trustees feel that such funding at this time would be wholly inappropriate. Please therfore direct enquiries through the normal contact methods and we will attempt to assist and signpost as we can.
On the subject of signposting, we would point out that PAVAUK are not an investigatory compliance body therefore are unable to entertain individual issues, we will however signpost to the best possible sources and authorities as suitable.
PAVAUK have also changed the administration of membership as certain individuals and organisations felt they were losing out. We have therefore introduced the following which seems to have been accepted readily:-
Memberships will be renewed 1st October each year and current membership will be valid until 30th September 2010
Until then the subscriptions for membership will be:-
Individual (Full) £ 40.00
Affiliated Group £110.00
Individual members will receive by e-mail the bi-annual newsletter and the alert system and will be eligible for a £20 discount on the fee for any 1 PAVAUK event per year. Affiliated members will receive a single copy of the newsletter and alert system and be eligible for 2 members to receive a £20 discount on the fee for any one PAVAUK event per year.
It is also proposed that all memberships will now commence from the 1st October each year, simplifying the renewal process and enabling planning to go ahead on the basis of accurate financial forecast. In fact, since September 2008 no requests for renewals have been sent out so many members have had access to what we have circulated without charge.
The new redesigned PAVAUK leaflet contains a membership application form; others can be sent to you by e mail This form will have to be used in order for PAVAUK to comply with the Data Protection Act. Please note the correct subscription rates as the leaflet may not reflect same.
Applications to join what will be an exciting future should be emailed to this address for ease of e mail address retention and confirmation of our database. Please put 'MEMBERSHIP' in the subject line. Please send cheques, made payable to PAVAUK to our address, BACS or counter payments are also possible.
Affiliated Group membership applications or renewals should include the identity of up to two named persons with their e mail addresses.
The Trustees will be available (subject to other commitments) to attend your local PAVAUK meetings or events. It is planned for each Trustee to be the named link person to a number of local groups; once it has been agreed who will be linked to who, we will let you know. It would help us if you could confirm the details of any local groups that are continuing to meet. In order to function as a PAVAUK group, it is necessary to have a Terms of Reference that are compatible with those of PAVAUK, a Steering Group comprised of Individual PAVAUK members and to provide details of your Group Meetings and events – in advance and notes of any meetings – for inclusion on the Members Section of the website.
Under the new Constitution, each local PAVAUK Group is entitled to send a named representative to attend Board meetings other than the Away Days. Details of the Board meetings, including copies of their records, may be made available on reasonable written request .
As mentioned elsewhere our 2009 AGM will be held on 20th October in Birmingham, co-hosted with the Birmingham Safeguarding Adults Board, on the issues around safeguarding vulnerable adults and criminal/non criminal investigations. More details will be forwarded to you and placed on the website as soon as they become available.
At the AGM which will be held during the luncheon interval there will be an EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING under Clause 6 of The Constitution to ratify two points, this immediately before the formal AGM. We hope to see and look forward to meeting as many members who are in attendance
In the workplan of 2008 to 2009 our prime objectives were to stabilise the groundwork on which the re-launch of PAVAUK had started and to increase membership, in our board meeting of 2nd and 3rd it was reflected that both had been achieved. Memberships had increased from 83 to 120 and our funds showed a slight increase. Our office and website being maintained by Leslie and Stephanie.
Following discussions amongst board members it was decided to appoint formally with immediate effect Dr Leslie R Angell as CEO to help develop and take an overhaul steer over the Charity and it's operation forwards.
As has been mentioned elsewhere the board, trustees and co-optees volunteer their time and services and all have their own profesional roles. It is hoped that this formal appointment will maintain the development.
Should you have any questions about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us via the website or the phone number below, but please remember that both are checked by Les and Steph, both of whom are volunteers with their own professional responsibilities and who cannot guarantee to be there when you call.
All the Trustees look forward to meeting many of you in the future.
Regards,
Pete Morgan, BA(Hons); MA; CQSW; DMS
Head of Service - Safeguarding Adults - Birmingham City Council
Chair of Trustees. PAVAUK
3rd October 2009
