Guidance: Deprivation of liberties: an update for hospices

Written by Hospice UK and National Council for Palliative Care, this update for hospices on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards highlights the importance of a recent Supreme Court judgement on care of people who may lack capacity to consent to the arrangements.  It sets out ways in which hospices may wish to get involved or influence subsequent activity, and what actions they can be taken.

Hospice UK & National Council for Palliative Care, November 2014.  Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Click here to download

Article: Healthcare assistant's new certificate of competence

An overview of the new care certificate implemented to ensure healthcare assistants' and support workers deliver 15 standards of effective care.  The article discusses the training, the 15 components, the supervision required and the role of nurses in assessing and supporting healthcare assistants.

Moore, A. 2015.  Working towards a new standard of care.  Nursing Standard, (March 18), 29 (29) p 22 - 24.

To request a copy, click here  and return form to library.

Article: Data protection: what boards need to know

Trustees and Directors are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act.  This article describes the key legal duties and responsibilities of boards and highlights 10 areas and processes that should be in place to ensure compliance and be ready for future technological advances.

Gallie, A. Data protection: what boards need to know.  1 March 2015.  Governance Magazine.

To request a copy, click here  fill in form and return to library.

Guidance: Charity reporting and accounting: the essentials

This guidance updates the previous guidance, last revised March 2012.    The guide is primarily aimed at charity trustees and sets out what charities are required to do, in terms of preparing annual reports, accounts and annual returns.   In each section of the guidance the commission asks a selection of relevant questions that trustees or their advisers may ask.  For each question, the guide gives a concise summary answer, followed by more background.

The Charity Commission, 2015.  Charity reporting and accounting: the essentials.  Charity Commission.

Click here to access report

Guidance: A fresh look at reputation risks for charities

Produced in joint partnership by the Guardian Voluntary Sector Network and Zurich Insurance, this guide, compiled in an easy to read style covers the essential areas to consider when it comes to potentially damaging situation.   Areas covered include reputation, managing negative press, and fundraising and reputation.

Zurich Insurance and Guardian Voluntary Sector, 2015.  A fresh look at reputation risks for charities.  Published on the Charity Finance Group web site.

Click here to download

Guidance: Charity Tax Reliefs: guidance on charity commission policy

Published in January 2015, this document sets out the commission’s regulatory guidance to trustees on the use of fiscal reliefs available to charities, including participation by charities in tax avoidance arrangements.

Click here to download report.

The Charity Commission, 2015. Charity Tax Reliefs: guidance on charity commission policy

Article: The Wellcome Trust's investment strategy

With a value of £18bn, the Wellcome Trust investment portfolio is the largest of all UK charities.  This article, written by the Chief Investment Officer at the Trust describes their investment strategy.   Areas include long term investment, direct asset management, global outlook, public equity, hedge funds, private equity, property, and commodities. 

Truell, D. 2015. The Wellcome Trust's investment strategy.  Finance Magazine.

To request a copy, click here, fill in form and return to library.

Report: Charity insurance survey 2015: premium rates

This report looks at the results of the recent charity insurance survey and discusses the importance of charities being aware of the evolving area of risk.  It lists the current areas of risk for charities and includes 2 case studies. 

Allsop, I. 2015. Charity insurance survey 2015: premium rates.  5 March 2015,  Finance Magazine.

To request a copy, click here, fill in form and return to library.

New book: The complete volunteer handbook

With the involvement of new third author, UK volunteering expert Rob Jackson, the remit of this new edition has been broadened and extended. It includes: A fully revised and updated introduction on trends and issues in volunteerism, especially regarding recruitment and supervision/management of volunteers. New chapters on risk management, measuring effectiveness of the volunteer programme and enhancing the status of the volunteer programme.

McCurley, S., Lynch, R. & Jackson, R. 2012.  The complete volunteer management handbook. 3rd edition.  Directory of Social Change.

Contact the library for a loan

Toolkit: Crisis communications toolkit: a resource for hospice PR and communications staff

Published in March 2015, the report was put together following a hospice communications and networking day.   Contents include a 10 point action plan, roles and responsibilities, managing social media communications, and examples of media statements for crisis incidents or issues management.

Hospice UK, 2015. Crisis communications toolkit: a resource for hospice PR and communications staff.  Hospice UK.

Email library to request loan 

Guidance: 10 Key points for charities on commercial contracts

Guidance from the Law Firm Radcliffes LeBrasseur, it details the 10 key areas for charities to be aware of with commercial contracts, when either receiving a draft contract or issuing one.

Radcliffes Le Brasseur, 2014.  Briefing Guide: 10 Key points for charities on commercial contracts.

Available to download

Report: Charity income spotlight report

Charity Financials' twice-yearly Charity Income Spotlight. The report tracks the overall income of the charity sector, filed between March and September 2014.

CharityFinancials, October 2014.  Charity income spotlight. 

Contact the library for a copy

Report: Risk Management for Charities

12 page report from the Institute of Risk Management Charities Special Interest Group, helps charities of all sizes make sense of risk management.  It is consistent with the Charity Commission's requirement.

The Institute of Risk Management, 2014.  Risk management for charities: getting started - supplementary guidance.

Available to download

Report: Hospice Accounts: analysis of the accounts of UK voluntary independent hospices

The report brings together the accounts of 186 hospices in the UK, including adult and children's hospice services.  The report can be used by hospice staff and trustees to benchmark their own hospice against others of the same size.  The report looks in detail at the different types of income, free reserves, deficits and falling reserves, returns of investment, staff costs and audit costs.

Help the Hospices (2014).  Hospice Accounts: analysis of the accounts of UK voluntary independent hospices for the year ended 31 March 2013.

To request a copy, contact the library