Our Governance

The Children’s Sunshine Home, operating as LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice (the Service) is managed according to best practice in health care service delivery. The service recognises that good governance is of key importance in the public and voluntary. As voluntary and community organisations working for public benefit, it is essential that the service’s standards of governance are as efficient and as effective as possible as well as in keeping with HSE, HSA, DOH and HIQA statutory policies, standards and Code of Governance of Charities.

The service is committed to ensuring that it has strong governance structures in place for both the Disability and Hospice services. The service is registered with the Charities Regulatory Authority & supports the implementation of the Charities Act 2009. The service is compliant with the HSE Annual Compliance Statement & the Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations. We have signed up to all ICTR fundraising regulations and issue financial statements under Standard of Recommended Practice (SORP), which operates to the triple lock standards of transparent reporting, good fundraising and good governance.

Purpose

The Service operates two statements of Purpose and Function. 

• The Children’s Palliative Care Services Statement of Purpose and Function is currently under review.
• Disability Service

The purpose of these policies is to ensure that the management structures, systems, policies and procedures lead to the Service being managed in an efficient and effective manner from the Board of Directors and the Management Team to frontline service delivery.

Responsibilities

The Board of Directors and the Management Team have a responsibility to review, monitor and evaluate the service on a continual basis to ensure continuous quality improvement according to this policy.

The Board of Directors

The Service is governed by a voluntary board. The key role of the Board of Directors is to provide efficient and effective leadership for the Service within a framework of practical controls.

The Board performs a dual role:

1. Providing strategic direction to the Service based on an understanding of the internal operating environment and the wider external health care landscape;
2. It has specific oversight responsibilities of executive functions.

Strategic Function

The Board governs the executive through a system of monitoring through its Board agenda, sub-committee work and performance management system. The Board reviews, approves and monitors the implementation of strategic and service plans for Service on a regular basis

The CEO is charged with the overall management of the Service and reports directly to the Board of Directors.

The Management team is in place to organise, lead and manage the Service on a day to day basis in keeping with the service’s vision and mission. This team are charged with ensuring continuous quality improvement for all children, adults and their families in keeping with best practice and statutory guidelines. Sub-committee structures are in place to deliver on the strategic objectives of the Service.

Stakeholder input and involvement is key to the Service progressing in a manner that meets the needs of the children, adults and their families.

Our Policy Work

The Children’s Sunshine Home, operating as LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice is committed to continuously improving its standards and policies to deliver excellent care for children and adults with life-limiting, palliative care and disability needs.

Our Board of Directors and Management Team monitor, review and amend policies and procedures in keeping with HSE, HSA, DOH and HIQA statutory policies and standards to ensure that we deliver an efficient and effective frontline service for children, adults and families who avail of our services.