Diff for "CouncilCorrespondence20181024HomeCompanions"

Link to CouncilAgenda20181024 > CouncilMinutes20181024

Correspondence regarding Home Companions

Reply from Synod:

From: David Herbert <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Cover query - Volunteers visiting parishioners
Date: 12 October 2018 at 4:18:26 PM AEDT
To: 'Janice Clear' <[email protected]>
Cc: Jacqueline Peters <[email protected]>

Jan
 
Thanks for speaking with me just now regarding the companionship activity your church is undertaking. It is a lovely thing to do for someone!
 
As discussed, considering that the activity has been discussed with and approved by the church council, it’s ok to continue.
 
Regards
 
David Herbert 
 
Associate Director
Risk Management & Insurance Services
130 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000
t  (03) 9251 5429     | m  0410 765 092
e  [email protected]
w  victas.uca.org.au

in response to this query and clarification fron Jan.

From: Janice Clear [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Thursday, 11 October 2018 9:13 PM
To: David Herbert
Subject: Re: Cover query - Volunteers visiting parishioners
 
Hi David, Thanks for your emails. The people doing the caring are volunteers from within the congregation-they are not from any committees. No money is changing hands. It is volunteer service. Regards Jan Clear. 
 

...
 
From: Janice Clear [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Thursday, 20 September 2018 9:28 PM
To: Jacqueline Peters
Subject: Re: Cover query - Volunteers visiting parishioners
 
Hi Jacqueline, Lovely to speak to you this afternoon. As promised this is a summary of what has happened. 

A couple of weeks ago, we were asked to provide companionship for an elderly member of the congregation whilst her husband did shopping, banking, appointments etc. ( He is also a member of the congregation.) This would have been twice a week for 2 to 2.5 hours for as long as it was needed. She is 90 and he is 87. 

As I am convenor of our Inclusive Community missional group, I offered to speak to ladies with our congregation who may be able to help us with this request. When the roster was drawn up,  some issues were raised including what would the person do in an emergency and did John have adequate insurance to cover this situation. I was told that there was insurance in place to cover our staff members who are visiting people but the church doesn’t cover volunteers with insurance for something like this, It was suggested that volunteers would need people checks. Other issues were that we would need to get CC approval for every case as it came up. It seemed that it would be ok if the people went as friends, to do the same task. 
 
I have known these people  who volunteered to help in this situation for many, many years.  Most of them were elders in the old system and have held positions of responsibility. I am sure that they will be sensible and cope with this situation. 
 
After these issues were raised, I rang the husband and said that I would need to speak to your department and Sue Clarkson and I would get back to him after that and discuss where we stand. In the meantime, he has had an aged care assessment done for his wife. 

I guess my question is where do we go from here and is there a way we could offer help in a safe manner, in the future. 
 
I hope that this is sufficient information for you. Please ring or email me if you need to know more. 

Looking forward to talking to you soon. Regards Jan Clear.