3
Annual Report and Accounts / 2015-2016The Oxfordshire Wheel is a consumer focused collaborative that is led by people with disabilities and other consumers of services including Carers. We aim to promote the improvement of existing services and to develop innovation identified in collaboration with other organizations. We emphasize the desire for a high quality of independence for individuals. / Community Independence Support
The Oxfordshire Wheel Limited.
The Board of Directors present their report and financial statements for the 12 months to 31st March 2016.
Report of the Directors
Introduction
This is the Fifth Annual Report of The Oxfordshire Wheel Limited.
The Oxfordshire Wheel is a collaborative user-led consortium, led by people with disabilities, and other users of services, including carers. We believe in the delivery of the Putting People First agenda in Oxfordshire giving choice and control directly to the individual.
We aim to promote the improvement of existing services and to develop innovation identified in collaboration with other organisations. We emphasise the desire for high quality on independence for individuals.
Our Vision
· To monitor services in order to achieve a high quality of services for people with disabilities to maximise opportunity.
· To maintain and encourage independent living and its principals of personal choice.
· To empower our members to contribute equitably and democratically to improve services at local level and in their local communities.
· To be open to an individual’s changing needs and identify gaps in delivery.
Our Values
The Wheel is set up on the social model of disability; we are committed to empowering independence and personal choice.
To reflect these values the Oxfordshire Wheel has chosen to be a Company limited by Guarantee based on the multi-stakeholder Co-operative model, a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity, we aim for openness and social responsibility. We work collaboratively to identify, and represent the welfare of individuals and their families.
Highlights This Year
This has been a busy year for us, and we have continued to build on the foundations and principals developed in our first four years.
Collaboration and Partnership
The Oxfordshire Wheel as a co-operative has continued its commitment to its partners, and specific work and projects with other organisations. Oxfordshire has a rich and diverse voluntary sector and the directors have continued to liaise and communicate with county and national bodies to remain well informed about matters affecting people needing support whilst reflecting back to policy makers gaps in provision.
We are involved with carers organisations, those representing people with learning disabilities, physical impairment and older people, including diverse groups such as Cherwell Disability Forum and the statutory county monitoring organisation Healthwatch. We are also involved in representing small but important specialist networks like the Oxfordshire Neurological Alliance for those with long-term conditions who face massive changes in welfare support.
We are members of the South East Regional disability organisations to keep abreast of change and to join lobbying groups to promote the need for advocacy, information and support for those wanting to make personal decisions for independence. Likewise, we have been involved at national level with Oxfordshire Family Support Network with a strong evidence based report on the care of those with a learning disability in secure settings.
Support with Confidence Scheme (Oxfordshire County Council)
The contract with Oxfordshire County Council for the Support with Confidence scheme changed considerably this year, as we took on the running of the scheme on behalf of the Council from April to December 2015. As part of the new contract the Wheel carried out a substantial review of all individuals on the scheme, introduced a new and innovative learning method for all entrants to the scheme, and made numerous recommendations for the future running of the scheme to Oxfordshire County Council.
The Wheel delivered a total of 330 courses to 50 individuals all of whom were successful in completing the Support with Confidence scheme. Therefore increasing the numbers of individuals in Oxfordshire who can work as Personal Assistants. This was almost double the average number of individuals per month that had previously completed the scheme in the previous four years, when delivered by the Council. Sadly Oxfordshire County Council did not renew the contract with us at the end of this period.
Community Independent Support Service
The Independent Community Support service has continued to see an increase in demand, as the benefits system becomes more complicated for disabled and vulnerable people. In particular we have seen a big increase in the number of individuals who are being refused Employment Support Allowance on initial application, or are refused following a review of their entitlement having been in receipt of the allowance previously. We have advised 721 people with booked face-to-face appointments, and have also provided support for a further 187 people through our drop in session. People are looking for support, advice and guidance with benefits and housing issues, within what is, a constantly changing and complex environment.
“Thank goodness for the team at the Oxfordshire Wheel. They have taken the stress and worry out of understanding and completing benefit claim forms. Until I found them I was lost! They are a knowledgeable support group that is truly on the side of the claimants, working through the process from start to finish.”
The wide range of issues which people need help with, ranges from help to complete the long and complex forms for Employment Support Allowance, Working Tax Credits, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment. Help to understand both the forms that need to be completed, and the review and appeals of decisions made by the Department of Work and Pensions, and Cherwell District Council. We are supporting an increasing number of individuals to appeal against benefit decisions to refuse a benefit, with a very high rate of success at appeal.
“From the appointments that I’ve witnessed myself, the Oxfordshire Wheel are an amazing support group, not only for my mum but for myself. Before my mum knew about them she had to go though a lot of things by herself with little support, and now because of all the support and help that the Oxfordshire Wheel have given to us, she’s able to relax more with official government documents. I find it a calm place where its easy to talk about issues going on and they can help and give me information to help me or my mum for future reference”
The service continues to be run solely by volunteers, and enormous thanks must go to all those who volunteer their time and knowledge freely, to provide expert support and advice.
Whilst it is very difficult to put a value on this service, we are however confident that in Cherwell we have supported individuals to claim, or appeal against benefit decisions, in excess of £1,200,000, which would otherwise have seen people in severe financial hardship.
The Oxfordshire Wheel - Representation at Strategic Level
Consumer consultation: The Directors of the Oxfordshire Wheel and its members have continued to be strategically involved with Social Care and Health to advise and feedback information about services and empowering consumers of services to actively lead change and to grow the membership of the Oxfordshire Wheel
Community Learning Programme
The Wheel concentrated on the delivery of the learning programme for the Support with Confidence Scheme (see above). A new programme was developed in consultation with both Oxfordshire County Council and previous Support with Confidence participants, as well as a detailed training audit. Training options were fully researched and mapped against the new Care Certificate standards. All participants were then required to complete 8 core modules of learning, and were offered additional specialist modules. Feedback was sought from a small pilot group, and following very positive feedback the new programme was launched for all participants in the scheme.
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The Oxfordshire Wheel Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered with Companies House in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. The Company was established under Articles of Association as a multi-stakeholder co-operative. In the event that the Company is wound up, each member would be required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
Purpose
The purpose of The Oxfordshire Wheel Limited is to carry out its function as a co-operative and to abide by the internationally recognised values and principles of co-operative identity as defined by the International Co-operative Alliance.
Organisational Structure
The Board of Directors meets regularly to review activities undertaken, agree strategy, consider policies and their implementation, to receive financial reports, review risk management, and discus routine matters.
Risk Management
Each year the Directors review the risk profile for all areas of potential risk: especially health and safety matters, but also resource planning and external challenges.
Powers and duties of the Board of Directors
The Directors are responsible for the management of the Oxfordshire Wheel’s business and subject to the Articles and the directions given by special resolution, they may exercise all the powers of a company for this purpose. No such special resolution invalidates anything that the Directors have done before the passing of the special resolution.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to determine policies and procedures associated with Membership.
All decisions made by a meeting of the Board of Directors, or by any person acting as a director shall remain valid, even if it is later discovered that there was some defect in the director’s appointment, or that the individual had previously been disqualified from acting as a director.
Accounts
The Board of Directors shall cause proper accounts to be kept and circulated in accordance with the Companies Acts with respect to;
· All sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in which the receipt and expenditure takes place,
· All sales and purchases of goods and services by the Company, and
· The assets and liabilities of the Company.
Proper accounts will have been kept if they give a true and fair record of the state of the Company’s affairs and explain its transactions
The accounts shall be kept at the registered office of the Company and shall always be open to the inspection of all Members and other persons authorised by the Company in a general meeting.
The Board of Directors shall prepare and present to the Members such regular financial reports, results and cash flow predictions showing the current financial position of the Company as the Members in a general meeting shall require to be laid before them.
The Company may decide that if it meets the qualifying criteria to apply the small company audit exemptions. If not, at least once every year the accounts of the Company shall be examined and the correctness of the income and expenditure account and balance sheet ascertained by one or more qualified auditors (or their equivalents). Auditors (or the their equivalents) shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the Companies Acts.
The Company meets the qualifying criteria as a small company under the Companies Act 2006 and The Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008, and has elected for the accounts to be subject to an independent examination.
Indemnity and insurance
Any director or former director of the company may be indemnified out of the Company’s assets against;
· Any liability incurred by that director in connection with any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company,
· Any other liability incurred by that director as an officer of the Company.
· The above does not authorise any indemnity that would be prohibited or rendered void by any provision of the Companies Acts.
Ricky Rea Yvonne Cox
Director Company Secretary
Finance report for the year ending 31st March 2016.
Summary
In summary, the Company earned £25.8k (£50.2k last year) and expended £26.1k (£49.1k last year) resulting in a retained loss of £0.2k (£1.2k profit last year). The bank balance at year-end was £28.3k (£34.3k last year).
Income and Expenditure Account for the 12 months to 31st March 2016
Income from ordinary activities has decreased from £50,211 last year to £25,801, reflecting the completion of the ESF and SWC projects.
2015/16 / 2014/15Income – Ordinary activities / £25,801 / £50,211
Other activities / £0 / £0
Expenditure / £26,051 / £49,094
Interest receivable / £28 / £57
Profit/-loss before taxation / -£223 / £224
Corporation Tax / £0 / £0
Retained profit/-loss for the year / -£223 / £1,175
Balance Sheet at 31st March 2016.
The Balance Sheet reflects the sound financial management and that the majority of funding for activities is received at the beginning of projects and services. Prepayments received will be used during the following year to deliver those projects and services, with general funds held to cover residual losses.
2012/13 / 2011/12Fixed assets / £0 / £0
Current assets – cash at bank / £28,263 / £34,280
Debtors / £0 / £0
Prepayments made / £233 / £1,866
Less Current liabilities
Creditors payable within 1 year / £273 / £5,192
Prepayments received / £29,241 / £31,749
Net current assets / -£1,018 / -£795
Net assets / -£1,018 / -£795
Accumulated profit/-loss / £-1,018 / -£795
Yvonne Cox Finance Director
Independent examiner’s opinion on The Oxfordshire Wheel Limited’s accounts for the year ending 31st March 2016.
I have reviewed the accounts as presented by the management and state that;
No evidence was found of lack of accounting records.
Nor of the accounts failing to comply with the records.
Nor of the accounts failing to comply with the Companies Act.
Nor are there other matters that must be disclosed.