The organisation
Cúnamh was established in 1997 as a community led mental health project. The organisation emerged from the opportunity created in 1994 as a result of the ceasefire and subsequent political and social developments. This created a new environment and space in which for the first-time victims and survivors could commence a process of reflection, exploration and personal growth. These new hidden opportunities allowed for new methods of personal and community development to take shape. The rationale underpinning the development of the project was that the peace building process needed to cater for the emotional and psychological impact, which the conflict had upon Victims and Survivors’ health & well-being.
Throughout the past 18 years Cúnamh has successfully enhanced the organisation’s capacity to provide specialised psychological services and interventions in response to the emerging needs of victims and survivors, whilst simultaneously maintaining our community led ethos.
Cúnamh firmly believes that the process of recovering from negative emotional and psychological impacts must initially take place within a safe and empathetic environment. We believe that victims and survivors and communities are entitled to support structures which respect and understand their experiences, and which are complementary to state-initiated or statutory provision. As well as dealing with the legacy of the conflict, Cúnamh also believes in responding to need as it develops over time. Cúnamh’s history and identity is the strong base from which we open out to the evolving / changing society in which we live.
We provide the recommended standard of psychological and health and well-being interventions by appropriately qualified staff within a non-clinical, comfortable and safe community setting.
All Cúnamh therapists are accredited with BACP/BABCP/IACP/NCP, and work in accordance with ethical standards as outlined in the frameworks of each of these professional bodies.
Cúnamh are an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy under membership number 00115139
Cúnamh operates in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations (2018). This means we treat your information with respect and in accordance with the law. If you would like further information please see our GDPR (2018) policy on our Governance section.
Vision
Cúnamh aspires to a community and society whose health, mental health and wellbeing is thriving through access to personal and community development opportunities.
Mission
To provide a community-led and based service catering for the emotional and psychological impact which conflict has had on individual and community well-being, and responsive to the emergent needs of the wider community.
Organisation Aims
- To provide victims and survivors with a safe place to explore and understand their feelings in relation to past traumatic experiences as they enter into the healing process
- To provide victims and survivors with a supportive and friendly environment in which they can actively negotiate various routes for change on their personal development and the development of their communities
- To establish a durable community-led support system
- To document the process as a dynamic model of progressive community support for implementation elsewhere.
Values
Community-led | Being responsive and flexible towards the diverse needs of the victim and survivor’s constituency we seek to support |
Trust | Empowering victims and survivors to heal themselves through processes based upon honesty, empathy and integrity |
Victim-centred | Keeping the needs of victims and survivors consistently at the heart of our project vision and service delivery |
Safe Space | Ensuring a positive, compassionate and confidential environment is promoted and observed by project staff at all times |
Client Testimonials
‘Thanks to Cunamh I was given the motivation to get out fishing again. Ive met up with old friends and enjoyed standing by a river. Getting the All Ireland licence has enabled me to go to new places and take it seriously. Being close to nature out in the fresh air in good company for 5 hours is hard to beat.’
‘ Actually getting a new outdoor coat and walking boots made me want to go out more. Just having them is a good enough reason to go. I love it If I’ts raining I can just put the hood up and walk for an hour. Just putting one foot in front of the other is very therapeutic and Im always more relaxed when I come back in’
‘ I didn’t think I would be interested in going to the gym, but was encouraged by my therapist at Cunamh about the real benefits of physical exercise, and decided to give it a go. At first I just had a quick dip in the pool and used the steam room and was enjoying just getting into a routine doing this. Now I use the treadmill, the exercise bike and cross trainer. Its true!… exercise changes everything.’
‘This place has turned my life around; the warmth and friendliness has allowed me to open up and be motivated to do the work and benefit fully from all the cbt and counselling. I enjoyed complimentary therapies on a regular basis with highly qualified therapists the benefits ca not be underestimated.’
‘I attended a painting class in Cunamh for 6 weeks. I was amazed by what I discovered I could do. I hadn’t painted since school. The tutor taught us basic techniques and gave us encouragement on a one to one basis with ideas and suggestions. Cunamh then provided some member of the group with an art set. I still paint at home, it is pure escape’
Referral Pathways & Services
Click here for Referral Pathway and Services Overview Leaflet
Inclusion and Accessibility Statement
Cúnamh aspires to a community society whose health, mental health and well-being is thriving through access to personal and community development opportunities. Through cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness we can grow and learn better together with a diverse team of staff, therapists and volunteers.
Cúnamh’s core constituency of benefit are Victims/Survivors of ‘The Conflict’. Our service users, staff and sessional providers reflect the Section 75 groups. Our Board of Directors comprise a diverse range of skills, experience and age-range. We continue to actively seek new female members onto our Board of Directors, despite the ongoing challenges faced by women, particularly in caring roles.
Cúnamh are acutely aware of the limited physical access to our office for our constituency of wheelchair users and those with limited mobility. We have and will continue to arrange for these clients to access our services at an appropriate location, in consultation with clients. We will also continue to support these clients with assistance from the VSSNI Health & Wellbeing Frameworks.
Cúnamh also work in partnership with the WHSCT to provide talking therapy for clients with hearing, language and sight barriers.
We review our outreach provision continuously and actively explore flexible, client focused services, to meet the specific needs of those with learning disabilities, neuro-diverse clients, ethnic minorities and young people attending school and college.
This policy needs to be applied in conjunction with Cúnamh’s Equal Opportunities Policy and the NI Act 1998 Section 75 Equality Monitoring Policy.
Registration and Data Protection
Cúnamh General Data Protection Regulation Policy
GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation and replaces the previous Data Protection Directives previously in place. It was approved by the EU Parliament in 2016 and comes into effect on 25th May 2018.
GDPR states that personal data should be ‘processed fairly & lawfully’ and ‘collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes’ and that individuals data is not processed without their knowledge and are only processed with their ‘explicit’ consent. GDPR covers personal data relating to individuals. Cúnamh is committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals with respect to the processing of clients, parents and staff personal data.
The Data Protection Act gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them. It provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handled properly. Cúnamh is registered with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) under registration reference: ZA385761 and has been registered since 2018. Certificates are on display on the Noticeboard.
GDPR includes 7 rights for individuals
1) The right to be informed
Cúnamh is a registered Therapeutic Services provider with BACP, IACP and BABCP, and as such, is required to collect and manage certain data. We need to know client’s names, addresses, telephone numbers, date of birth and G.P. Practice.
We need to know clients’ full names, addresses, date of birth and GP Practice. We also need to know of any medical conditions relevant to Therapy or and any history of previous therapy.
As an employer Cúnamh is required to hold data on its employees and student counsellors.
Names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, date of birth, National Insurance numbers, photographic ID for Access NI Certificates such as passport and driver’s license and bank details. This information is also required for Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS) and proof of eligibility to work in the UK. This information is sent via a secure mail delivery to Shantallow Area Partnership for the processing of Access Ni checks.
2) The right of access
Cúnamh is a company registered in Northern Ireland. Registration No: NIC101682. Registered Office: Cúnamh Offices, 171 Sunbeam Terrace, Bishop Street Derry. BT48 6UJ. At any point an individual can make a request relating to their data and Cúnamh will need to provide a response (within 1 month).
Cúnamh can refuse a request, if we have a lawful obligation to retain data, but we will inform the individual of the reasons for the rejection. The individual will have the right to complain to the ICO if they are not happy with the decision.
3) The right to erasure
You have the right to request the deletion of your data where there is no compelling reason for its continued use. However, Cúnamh has a legal duty to keep children and young people’s details for a reasonable time*, Cúnamh retain these records until the child reaches 21 years, and 22 years or until the child reaches 24 years for Child Protection records. Staff records must be kept for 6 years after the member of staff leaves employment, before they can be erased. This data is archived securely and shredded after the legal retention period. There is a full Risk Assessment in place for transportation and storage. A copy of this Risk Assessment can be provided upon request.
4) The right to restrict processing
Clients and staff can object to Cúnamh processing their data. This means that records can be stored but must not be used in any way, for example reports or for communications.
5) The right to data portability
Cúnamh requires data to be transferred from one IT system to another; such as from Cúnamh to WHSCT, GPs or other referral agents. These recipients use secure file transfer systems and have their own policies and procedures in place in relation to GDPR.
6) The right to object
Clients and staff can object to their data being used. Cúnamh does not use personal data for activities like marketing or research.
7) The right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling.
Automated decisions and profiling are used for marketing based organisations. Cúnamh does not use personal data for such purposes.
Storage and use of personal information
Cúnamh clients are assigned a reference number upon registration with the organisation. This reference number is made up of the client’s initials and date of registration. This is used by all therapists on client therapy records, which are locked the therapist’s desk until completion of therapy. All paper copies of clients and staff records are kept in a locked filing cabinet in a separate locked office in Cúnamh. Only the Manager has access to these files. Information taken from the files about individual clients is confidential and these records remain on site at all times. These records are shredded and/or disposed of by a secure confidential waste disposal company (CSI) after the retention period of 7 years.
Information about individual clients is used in certain documents, such as referrals to external agencies and disclosure forms. These documents include data such as client’s names, date of birth and sometimes address. These records are shredded and/or disposed of by a secure confidential waste disposal company (CSI) after the retention period.
Cúnamh collects a large amount of personal data every year including; names and addresses of those on the waiting list. These records are shredded if the client does not attend or added to the client’s file and stored appropriately.
Upon registration clients are informed of what information is collected about them, how it is stored and its purpose. Clients are provided with this information on a separate information leaflet, which is also on public display in the reception area.
Cúnamh stores personal data held visually in photographs or video clips only when written consent has been obtained via the appropriate form. No names are stored with images in photo albums, displays, on the website or on Cúnamh social media sites.
Access to all Office computers is password protected. When a member of staff leaves the company these passwords are changed in line with this policy and our Safeguarding policy. Any portable data storage used to store personal data, e.g. USB memory stick, are password protected and/or stored in a locked filing cabinet.
GDPR means that Cúnamh must;
* Manage and process personal data properly
* Protect the individual’s rights to privacy
* Provide an individual with access to all personal information held on them
This Policy was adapted at a Board meeting at Cúnamh on 13th March 2018
Due to the nature of our work Cúnamh place the upmost importance on the safety of the client information we obtain from you.
Click here for our Client Privacy Leaflet
