The Wellington MS Society Inc.
The Wellington Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Inc, is one of 18 regional societies throughout New Zealand, looking after the needs of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and other allied neurological diseases.
The Wellington Society is a not-for-profit organisation, devoted to supporting through their two Field workers, those with MS, their carers and their families. Since a cure is still far off our principal mission is to maximise their quality of life through information and personal support and to facilitate the provision of all appropriate health and welfare services available. Our aim is to provide a maximum knowledge, informal, and confidential service at minimum cost.
The Wellington MS Society, along with the 18 others, is autonomous from the National Multiples Sclerosis Society of New Zealand. The difference being, the Wellington MS Society (and other local regional societies) works directly with those with PwMS in the greater Wellington Area, and the National body work for Multiple Sclerosis in general supporting the regional societies. Click here to go to the National MS web site.
Coverage of the Wellington MS Society
In our region (greater Wellington to South of the Otaki River, the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa) we have 400 members. Including family members and carers this amounts to about 1200 people who need us. Members are generally self-referred, or referred by Neurologists, GPs, District Nurses, social and Field workers or by family members.
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Description of Service
The Society has been in existence since 1963 and services are provided principally through Field Workers. These Field Workers visit people in their homes when asked and in some cases on a more regular basis. This full-time advisory and visiting service for our Members with MS and other allied neurological diseases is not provided by any other agency.
Our Field Workers offer the following services:
- An informed, up-to-date knowledge of the condition.
- Assessment of a person’s particular needs.
- Referral and liaison with appropriate services.
- Support for clients and families.
- Support groups including meetings for newly diagnosed and discussions groups as and when required.
- Social activities such as monthly coffee mornings/luncheons.
- Advocacy for clients eg with employers, income support services, industrial/discrimination advice, Housing NZ, etc.
- Educating the public and health professionals about MS and related issues.
A typical home visit may take about 1 to 1½ hours, the minimum time needed to build a trusting relationship so that a true assessment of a situation can be made. Multiple Sclerosis is not a condition which affects people in isolation. When one person in the family has MS their whole family has “MS” as well.
For details on how to contact a Field worker please click here or go to the 'Contact Details' section.
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Committee Members
President: Jan Kelly Secretary: Kaye Keighley Treasurer: Coleen Wilkinson Committee: Maxine Harland Brett Harland Mike Haylock Steve McCabe Anne Woodside Andy Woodside Hamish Smith Teresa Trotter Rachel Pentecost
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How does the Wellington Multiple Sclerosis Society operate?
The Wellington MS Committee is voluntary and is made up of a president, treasurer, secretary and 7 committee members. The constitution allows up to 12 committee members but as with many voluntary organisations today, we have difficulty getting persons prepared to stand. We meet monthly to discuss the business of the Society.
Within the committee are subcommittees which also meet separately at different times to report back to the main committee. This saves time at the monthly committee meetings:
The subcommittees are:
- Field Workers Coordinators – who work directly with the Field Workers.
- Finance meeting in regard to the Societies Financial situation
- Grants - applying for ongoing funding
- Social/fundraising
- Adhoc subcommittees that are set up for specific matters as and when required.
Field Workers:
The Field Workers as employees of the Society, must be treated as any employee i.e. both Society and Field Workers must comply with all regulatory Acts such as the Employment Contracts Act, the Privacy Act, the Health & Safety Act, Human Rights, Health and Disability and the many other Acts that are now in force. The Society, as per legislative requirements, also has a complaints procedure, should any member have a complaint about the service they have received.
As employees, in addition to the Acts of Parliament, the Field Workers have policies and procedures laid down by the Society that they must comply with. The Society has a document called the Wellington Multiple Sclerosis Society Handbook. This is a living document and is updated with changes as and when required.
The Field Workers are responsible to the President or Vice President in their absence. A yearly appraisal is conducted by the President with each Field Worker. The “Field Workers Coordinating Committee” meets with the Field Workers bi-monthly and works through any issues that may have arisen.
The Field Workers also have supervision, given by qualified, independent Supervisor to whom they can discuss any concerns they may have. These supervision meetings are strictly confidential between the Supervisor and the Field Worker. Such supervisory sessions are compulsory for all Field/Social workers who deal directly with clients in the Field, allowing them to give guidance when dealing with a specific matter/client. Any matters between the client and the Field Worker are confidential and not Committee business.
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