The Annual General Meeting of Ability West was held Tuesday, June 11, 2023 at the Clybaun Hotel in Galway where the organization shared the 2023 Annual Report and the 2023 Financial Statements.
During 2023, the organization operated twenty-eight residential homes, twenty-seven day services and six respite services. Residential and day services were provided for 493 persons with intellectual disabilities and co-morbidities and the organization was also supported by 45 home-sharing families.
More than 10,000 nights of respite were provided for adults and over 2,000 respite nights for children.
However, 2023 was a year of challenges for Ability West. Since the pandemic, Ability West experienced a changing landscape. Whilst the organization managed to navigate with reasonable success throughout the pandemic, several of the issues last year were legacy from COVID.
Staff teams were significantly depleted, and like many other sectors, Ability West was no exception. Additionally, there was a pay parity issue where people employed by Section 39 organisations, such as Ability West, were paid significantly less than those working for the Health Service Executive (HSE ) and Section 38 organisations like the Brothers of Charity.
This disparity led to a threat of strike action in October. Fortunately, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Trade Unions reached an agreement through pay talks, resulting in nationwide pay increases for Section 39 employees, delivered in three tranches.
Given the difficulty in recruiting permanent staff, the organization employed a significantly high level of agency staff, and this proved very costly. It was also not good for employee engagement, or indeed for the persons supported by Ability West. The difficulty in hiring also meant that there were vacant Person in Charge positions to cover residential homes which have now been put in place.
The lack of permanent staff was a contributory factor to the significant non-compliances the organization experienced during HIQA inspections in 2023, which was very disappointing for the organization.
In response, the organization created an aggressive recruitment plan. In the autumn of last year, there were more than 80 open positions. This number has been decreasing month by month, and has been significantly helped by the pay increases.
Disappointingly, the organization recorded a deficit of over €1 million last year. However, there were mitigating factors, such as the premium cost of agency staff, the difficulty in hiring permanent staff, and significant demands on minor capital expenditure. This expenditure was necessary in modifications to several residential properties following non-compliant HIQA inspections to bring them into compliance.
Minister Anne Rabbitte was unable to join the AGM in person, but in a video address she said: “It is great to be part of the Ability West AGM again this year, albeit remotely. Ability West is a well-recognized organization in Galway and a reputation for high quality care and support for people with disabilities built up over decades.
“After a difficult 18 months, it’s positive to see a plan for the future now in place, which will be a great relief to both service users and families.
“I welcome the appointment of Julie Silke Daly as Interim Chief Executive, and I think it’s clear that Julie has already made a positive impact in putting Ability West on a more stable footing. I also want to thank the Board, who I have met a number of times now, as they have invested a lot of time, energy and effort into the organization, and it too is paying dividends. I look forward to continued engagement with Julie, the Board, service users and families over the years ahead.”
In his opening speech, Kevin Newell, Chair of Ability West, thanked the Minister for addressing the Annual General Meeting and for her ongoing support of Ability West.
Julie Silke Daly, who has been the Interim Chief Executive since the start of 2024, discussed the upturn in compliance with HIQA inspections - noting that they are now back up to 76% full compliance.
At the meeting, Ms. Silke Daly said: “We are working with the HSE on a service improvement plan which is progressing well. While we recognize that a lot has improved for the people we support, there remains a considerable body of work to be completed. We are currently developing a new strategy for Ability West which will have a key focus on regionalizing the teams to better serve the people we support.”
She continued, “In order to bring about real change, we recognize that we need to work together and regularly engage with the people we support, our management and staff, and our families.”
A formal resolution to adopt a new Constitution to give Ability West the scope to be a Housing Body was passed at the Meeting.
Adam Harris, CEO of the Autism Charity AsIAm was a guest speaker at the meeting. The meeting was attended by families, persons supported, representatives from professional bodies and the HSE.
