ANNUAL REPORT FINANCI AL YEAR 2011/12

ANNUAL REPORT FINANCI AL YEAR 2011/12

CONTENTS Mission Statement Centres Profile / Development Centre s Review Centre s Official Opening Statistics Management Board Centre s Staff Counselling Service Seniors Helpline Service Public Education & Publicity Staff Training & Development Volunteers Training & Development Advocacy & Specialized Education Going forward Acknowledgement 3 3 4 5 5 7 8 8 9 10 13 15 18 19 19 2

MISSION STATEMENT Counselling Centre To enhance the total well-being of the elderly & their caregivers with a special focus on the psychological and social aspects of their health. The Seniors Helpline To promote the well-being of older persons and their caregivers by listening and responding appropriately to their concerns and needs. CORE VALUES OF SAGE COUNSELLING CENTRE SAGE Counselling Centre has the following eight core values: o Compassion o Commitment o Excellence o Leadership o Professionalism o Responsibility o Respect o Teamwork CENTRE S PROFILE / DEVELOPMENT SAGE Counselling Centre was developed in year 1991 as a programme under the Singapore Action Group of Elders (S.A.G.E.) to provide counselling and telephone helpline services for anyone aged 50 years and over, or their families and caregivers, who have concerns about their older years. In year 2008, SAGE Counselling Centre registered with the Registry of Society (ROS) as an independent professional entity. It obtained its NCSS membership and IPC charity status in July the same year retaining the name as SAGE Counselling Centre. Professionally-trained staff and counsellors at SAGE Counselling Centre continue to develop and offer improved specialised counselling services for older people and their carers, addressing issues including grief, loss, relationships, ill health, trauma, depression and lack of support networks. The counselling service is also available for people with early-stage dementia, and their families or carers who have suffered from caregiver stress or any other psycho-emotional problems. In situations where an older person is unable to come to the Centre for a counselling appointment, home-based counselling service will be offered and the counsellor will see the person in their own home. 3

The Centre has enhanced the "ECADIT" framework counselling model and expressive therapy by using experiential therapeutic tools to assist clients who are facing difficulty in expressing verbally or unable to vocalize internal feelings. The ECADIT model has been used by the counselling staff and also shared with students on placement, professional staff of other agencies during agency visits as well as any other professionals who are interested in the approach. SAGE Counselling Centre strives to provide quality client service and clinically sound programming by enhancing staff development; fostering strong partnerships with the community and other agencies; and in promoting a culture which engages all staff and clients free from stigma and negative personal and social determinants. The goal of staff and client engagement and staff retention is central to the functioning of the Centre and an integral component contributing to the Centre s identity, vibrancy, and sustainability. In line with such efforts, the Centre successfully sustained the three-tiered service direction philosophy encompassing the preventive, remedial and working with the community. With more outreach activities and better working relationships with other agencies and VWOs, SAGE Counselling Centre increased the service coverage for older persons who are facing depression and other psycho-emotional stresses in the community. As such, the Centre served clients including patients of hospitals, residents of long-term care institutions, as well as elderly service users of eldercare centres, daycare centres, senior activity centres and neighbourhood links. Furthermore, the Centre conducted regular public education talks, experiential workshops, public seminars, and many other activities for older persons in order to enhance their awareness about issues pertaining to ageing and coping. The Centre is excited to embark on a renewed vision with an integrated plan that supports our ongoing programme enrichment which includes group work, clinical research and more public education activities. CENTRE S REVIEW SAGE Counselling Centre s new location at Jurong Point Shopping Centre reaped positive results in increasing the number of older persons served. With improved access, counselling staff experienced ease of transport resulting in enhanced productivity and more numbers of walk-in clients. In FY2011/12, SAGE Counselling Centre upheld its mission in enhancing the total well-being of the elderly population. With full funding from the Ministry of Community of Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) as well as much-appreciated support from the generous donors and well- wishers in terms of donations, activity sponsorship, facility support, etc., the Centre effectively served the elderly and their caregivers. This report details the services provided and the projects undertaken by the Centre from April 2011 to March 2012. 4

CENTRE S OFFICIAL OPENING SAGE Counselling Centre s official opening was successfully held at its new premises at Jurong Point Shopping Centre on Saturday 22/10/11 graced by Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng, MP for Pioneer SMC. More then 100 invited guests and volunteers turned up for the event. STATISTICS Monthly Cases Carried Forward FY2011/12 140 120 100 80 121 112 118 111 109 110 110 116 97 85 88 103 60 40 20 0 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 5

Monthly New Referrals & Case Opened FY2011/12 30 25 20 15 21 22 25 18 26 27 14 17 24 14 10 11 5 0 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 6 Ref errals Open New Cases Case Closures per Month in FY2011/12 30 25 20 15 17 15 27 23 22 12 26 19 10 10 5 0 5 4 2 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Total Seniors Helpline Calls received in FY2011/12 800 752 700 600 500 400 335 415 516 433 513 617 614 539 489 475 651 300 200 100 0 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 6

MANAGEMENT BOARD Introducing our dedicated board members: Dr Lee Ngak Siang : Chairperson Dr Esther Tan : Vice-Chairperson Mr Lai Seng Cheok Victor : Honorary Secretary Mr Zulkifli Mohd : Honorary Treasurer Dr Maung Maung Aye : Asst Hon Treasurer Mr Phang Tai Heng : Member Dr Leong Keng Hong : Member Dr Hoong Wee Min : Member Dr Joshua Kua Hai Kiat : Member Mrs Winnies Phoon : Member Ms Lee Soo Kwan : Member (New) Introducing our advisor: Dr Lui Hah Wah Elena : Honorary Advisor 7

CENTRE S STAFF The followings are the Centre s staff members for the year 2011/2012: Management Staff Mr : Executive Director Professional Staff: Ms Chew Foong Ming : Senior Counsellor Ms Lina Koh Bee Ping : Senior Counsellor Ms : Counsellor Ms Joyce Quek : Counsellor Ms Leong Ya Lai : Counsellor Ms Soh Siew Eng : Counsellor Administrative/Supporting Staff: Ms Chue Luen Song : Accounts Executive Ms Chelsia Chua Geok Lan : Admin Executive REPORTS OF ON VARIOUS SERVICES Counselling Service SAGECC Counselling Team offers face-to-face counselling, home based counselling and group counselling for the elderly clients in the community, hospitals, nursing homes or aged homes. Apart from providing the usual verbal counselling, the counsellors also conduct expressive therapy sessions using art making, clay work, symbol work, sand play & other means to help clients express their inner feeling more effectively. The Centre has a total of 296 cases in FY2011/12 which involved inter-generational, marital, social, emotional and psychological issues. 8

Seniors Helpline Service SAGECC operates the Seniors Helpline (1800-555-5555) since year 2005. Its operation hour begins from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm daily from Monday to Friday and from 9.00 am 1.00 pm on Saturday. The senior helpline service is manned by a group of enthusiastic trained volunteers with two professional counsellors. The Seniors Helpline also offers out-call befriending service as an additional assistance to those socially isolated lonely elderly who call the Seniors Helpline repeatedly just for a listening ear. This add on service enabled the Seniors Helpline to reach out to more elderly and their family members who are in need of assistance. To ensure a high quality of national-wide helpline service to meet with the high demands of service and provide a human touch attending to the seniors, the warmhearted Senior Helpline volunteers are intensively trained and supervised. The Seniors Helpline received a total of 6358 calls from April 2011 to March 2012. The highest three categories of telephone calls received were psycho-emotional problems, personal issues and Information & referral. 9

Public Education Programmes & Publicity The Centre has delivered numeral external educational talks and training programmes during the year. It has also actively participated in and conducted community outreach activities to publicize the Centre. Public Education Programmes Through out the year, we have conducted 6 public educational talks & 1 public seminar. The following is a summary of public education programmes conducted: 1. Public Educational Talks Date Event Title 18/06/11 PE Talk on Expressive Art Therapy @ New Horizon Toa Payoh Lina Koh 08/10/11 PE talk Caring for Elderly persons @ SAMH World Mental Health Day Leong Ya Lai 29/10/11 PE talk on Art therapy & Depression in TaRA s Seminar Depression What s Matter 16/11/11 PE talk on Generational Communication @ Yong En Day care Centre Leong Ya Lai 07/03/12 PE talk on Understanding Physiological Changes Soh Siew Eng 17/03/12 PE talk on Relationship building blocks @ New Horizon Centre at Toa Payoh Lina Koh SAMH World Mental Health Day 10 Conducting Staff

2. Public Seminar Date 13/08/11 Event Title Mental Well Being Seminar (Mandarin) Speakers Dr Lee Ngak Siang Dr Joshua Kua, Dr Leong Keng Hong Dr Hoong Wee Min Activities in Promoting Publicity Through out the year, our counsellors and staff members of the Centre have been conducting outreach presentations to organizations sharing about services offered by the Centre and updating the agencies the Centre s development. The following are the outreach & publicity activities carried out by the Centre s staff during FY2011/12: Date Organization 12/4/11 Jurong Polyclinic 13/04/11 Concern and Care Centre @ Bukit Batok 21/04/11 St. Luke s Day Care Centre@ Jurong East 22/06/11 Ren Ci Day Care Centre @ Hougang 17/09/11 Academy of Certified Counsellors 12/11/11 NVPC Networking meeting 10/01/12 Khoo Teck Puat Hospital 07/02/12 Wesley Daycare Centre @ Lavender By Leong Ya Lai, Chew Foong Ming, Lina Koh, Chew Foong Ming Leong Ya Lai, Leong Ya Lai, Chew Foong Ming, Joyce Quek Chew Foong Ming, Joyce Quek 11

Other Events / Activities participated Date 11/05/11 Event Title NCSS client focus group meeting Venue Jurong Point National Art Centre By: 5 Clients, Chelsia Chua 13/06/11 SAC/NL Networking Meeting May July 2011 Group Expressive activity @ Ren Ci Wan Qing Lodge, Wan Qing Lodge Joyce Quek, (Jurong East) Jackson Chong, Chin Lee Huang May July 2011 Group Expressive activity @ Ren Ci Day Care Centre Ren Ci Day Care Chew Foong (Hougang) Ming, Goh Li Lin 22/07/11 15/09/11 HPB Positive Well Being Bus Project 07/09/11 NCSS Membership Conference Concorde Hotel Lina Koh, Chelsia Chua, Soh Siew Eng Chue Luen Song 27/11/11 Active Ageing 2011 Marine Parade CC Nov 11 Jan 12 Group Expressive activity @ Adventist Home Adventist Home Tan Siew Lam Goh Meow Ching 04/12/11 Community Functional Screening by HPB & South-West CDC Hong Kah North CC Joyce Quek Soh Siew Eng Leong Ya Lai 17/03/12 Caring Touch, Moving Hearts @ SGH Social Workers Day Celebration SGH Joyce Quek, Lina Koh 2325/03/12 C3A 50 Plus Expo 2012 07/02/12 14/03/12 12 PE talk on Counselling Experience with the Elderly PE talk on Use of Creative Therapy with the Elderly Singapore Expo Hall Ngee Ann Polytechnics NUS social Work Department All Lina Koh

STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT The Centre has been actively encouraged its staff to attend professional training & educational courses that are relevant to their work and professional growth. The external courses, workshops, conferences, and seminars attended by Centre staff are listed as follows: Date Title of Training/Course/Workshop Staff attended Organizer Investing on Ageing Boom Conference Integrative CSR Consulting Pte Ltd 27/04/11 TAFEP Conference on Fair Employment Practice Chew Foong Ming TAFEP 24/05/11 Communication with Persons with Dementia Chelsia Chua Chue Luen Song IMH 26/05/11 Workplace Safety Training Chew Foong Ming Jurong Point Management 05/07/11 Understanding & Screening for Depressive Illness & Dementia Chelsia Chua in the Community IMH 13/07/11 Elderly Suicide Prevention: Intervention & Management Joyce Quek SSTI Working with Families Chue Luen Song AHD 29/07/11 Eldercare: Life Story Interviews Lina Koh Chelsia Chua SSTI 15/07/11 TAFEP Workshop Effective Management of Mature Employee TAFEP 07/09/11 NCSS Membership Conference 2011 Lina Koh Energie Business Partners Pte Ltd 04/11/11 TAFEP Workshop Empowering Women with Flexibility Chew Foong Ming TAFEP 07/10/11 The Mental Capacity Act: Rethinking Caregiving Chelsia Chua Chew Foong Ming SSTI 13-14/10/11 19-20/07/11 13

11/10/11 TAFEP Seminar Fair & Responsible Employment Chue Luen Song TAFEP 11/10/11 Transforming Caring & Caregiving Eldercare Seminar Joyce Quek Leong Ya Lai SSTI 10-11/11/11 LiveEnabled Conference CEL 02/12/11 National Family Violence Prevention Conference MCYS 20/12/11 Understanding Loss & Grief Leong Ya Lai IMH 10/01/12 Understanding Screening for Depression & Dementia Leong Ya Lai Soh Siew Eng IMH 13/01/12 TAFEP Workshop Diversity @ Work Developing Cross-Cultural Competence TAFEP HP Professionals in NPOs Chew Foong Ming SSTI 31/01/12 Memory Rehabilitation for Early Stage Dementia Joyce Quek Chue Luen Song IMH 14/01/12 NHG DSBF Training NHG 15/02/12 Financial Management & Internal Control for NPO Leaders Chew Foong Ming SSTI 15-29/02/12 Gerontological Counselling Basic Soh Siew Eng SSTI 21/02/12 Suicide Risk Assessment & Management Chew Foong Ming Lina Koh IMH 05-06/03/12 Mental Health First Aid: Older Person Chelsia Chua SSTI 07-09/03/12 2nd Asia Pacific Research Ethics Conference NHG 20/03/12 Psychological & Emotional Wellbeing of Elderly Joyce Quek IMH 27/03/12 08/05/12 Certificate in Supervision Training for the Social Services Chew Foong Ming Lina Koh FRTC-SASW 30/03/12 Volunteer Management System Engaging Volunteers Systematically Leong Ya Lai SSTI ileap Professional Course for on-profit Leaders SMU & Lien Centre for Social Innovation 30-31/01/12 02/02/12 03/05/12 14

The Centre also conducted in-house training sessions, lunch hour sharing sessions, mini-presentations that encouraged staff to share their professional knowledge as well as to feedback the external training attended by them. SAGECC Staff In-House Training 2011-2012 Date 07/07/11 Training Title Use of Geriatric Depression Scale Basic Screening Measures for Depression in Old Adults Conducting Staff 29/09/11 Mind Mapping Lina Koh 29/09/11 Clinical note writing Our Honorary Advisor, Dr Elena Lui Hah Wah has also conducted regular monthly case conferences for professional staff and students on placement. The case conferences provided the professional staff a platform to gain updated academic knowledge and receive professional guidance and exchange practical experiences. VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT The Centre has a register of 39 volunteers (as at March 2012), compromising active Seniors Helpliners, Specialist volunteers and ad-hoc volunteers. During this financial year, activities arranged for the volunteers were as follows: The Centre has conducted two rounds of Volunteers Orientation Programmes on 17/12/11 & 18/02/12 respectively. The Centre has organized a Basic Expressive Therapy Training for the volunteers from 19/04/11 to 03/05/11 with a total of 8 volunteers who are interested in organizing group therapeutic activities for older clients participated. A session of Introduction to House-TreePerson Assessment by the Centre s Executive Director was arranged for active volunteers who are interested in artistic assessment on 26/06/11. 15

The Centre has conducted a 3-month Basic Volunteer Training Programme for the new volunteers from 16/04/11 to 20/07/11. After the Basic Volunteer Training, an educational visit to Adventist Home for the Aged, Moral Neighbourhood Link, & Loving Heart Multi Service Centre has also been scheduled on 20/07/11. A Christmas & Year End Party for volunteers was held on 16/12/11 and a CNY gathering and Lo-Hei lunch for the volunteers was organized on 01/02/12. 16

The Centre s Volunteers Appreciation Day for FY2011/12 was held at the Centre in conjunction with the Centre s official opening on 22/10/11 to recognize and appreciate the year round hard work & contribution from the volunteers to the Centre. The Volunteer Star Award winner this year was Mdm Lau Bee Eng. The Centre has also actively encouraged and nominated the volunteers to attend professional training & educational courses that are relevant to their contribution to the clients. The external courses, workshops, conferences, and seminars attended by the Centre s volunteers are listed as follows: Date 5/4/11 09-10/05/11. 20/9/11 22/11/11 20/12/11 Title of Programme Understanding & Screening for Depression & Dementia in the Community Basic Art Therapy Workshop Working with Elderly Clients Falls Prevention Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Understanding Loss and Grief No of Volunteers attended Organizer 4 ACAPTS - IMH 2 SSTI 2 ACAPTS - IMH 2 ACAPTS IMH 6 ACAPTS IMH 17

31/1/12 Memory Rehabilitation for Early Stage Dementia 8 ACAPTS IMH 7/2/12 Understanding & Screening for Depression & Dementia in the Community 13 ACAPTS IMH 21/2/12 Suicide Risk Assessment and Management 12 ACAPTS IMH 20/3/12 Psychological and Emotional Well-being of Elderly 7 ACAPTS - IMH ADVOCACY & SPECIALISED EDUCATION Gero-education and Training From May to July 11, two undergraduate students, Mr Ryan Nge and Ms Sim Kang Kim from the Social Work Department, NUS have attached to the Centre for their social work field placement under supervision by the Executive Director. From July to October 11, Ms Florence Kwong, a student undergoing BA in Social Work programme from UniSIM has done her placement at the Centre. From July to Nov 11, another student from UniSIM Counselling programme, Mr See Yew Siong was attached to the Centre. From Oct 11 to Apr 12, an undergoing Master in Counselling course from UniSIM, Ms Mdm Gita Cheerath has completed her placement at the Centre. From January to April 12, another two students from UniSIM, Mr Patrick Lim & Ms Lok Ai Thean were attached to the Centre under supervision by Dr Esther Tan and Mr respectively.. From July to Dec 11, Ms Liu Wei, a student undergoing Master in Counselling from Ji Nan University has completed her attachment at the Centre under supervision by Ms Lina Koh. From August 11 to Feb 12, Ms Cecilia Leong, a NIE student undergoing the Master in Applied Psychology programme has completed her placement at the Centre. From July 11 to Feb 12, Ms Goh Yong Cheng, a counselling student from Monash University has also completed her attachment at the Centre under supervision by Ms Chew Foong Ming. From 08/02/12 to 28/02/12, the Centre s ED was involved in the teaching of Gero-Counselling for the Specialist Diploma in Counselling at Nanyang Polytechnic. Mr has also conducted one round of 2-day Basic Mandarin Workshop on Introductory Art Therapy for the Elderly at SSTI on 09-10/05/11. Golden Life Work Groups The Elder Suicide Prevention work group and Elder Abuse Prevention work group have been merged into one as the Golden Life Workgroup. The newly merged workgroup has started planning for reactivating the various sub-committees and for activities in promoting awareness about depression in old age, elderly suicide and suicide prevention and other relevant topics and about healthy ageing. 18

GOING FORWARD The Centre has celebrated its first year at Jurong Point Shopping Centre with increase in numbers of client served and activities conducted. In the coming years, the centre would continue to uphold and build its professional image and develop its staff to provide better services for needy older clients and their families. The Centre will further concentrate in its new direction with various professional services and enhance the knowledge and skills of its professional staff to offer better services. The centre will continue to work with various external agencies and organizations, such as NCSS, HPB, CEL, AIC, CDCs, NLB, PA and many other governmental and VWO agencies in carrying out specific projects and activities. These various activities would further enhance the Centre s capacity in achieving its mission and vision for offering excellent services for our seniors. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Our Centre would like express our sincere and deep appreciation to the following foundations, organizations and individuals who made donations or contribution to our services and activities during the year. Foundations/Organizations Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sport National Council of Social Service Community Chest Health Promotion Board Jurong Point Realty Limited Lee Foundation Kwan Inn Thong Hood Cho Temple Individuals Dr Lui Hah Wah Elena 19

1 Jurong West Central 2, #06-04 Jurong Point Shopping Centre Singapore 648886 Tel: (65) 6354-1191 Fax: (65) 6354-1905 Web-site: www.sagecc.org.sg E-mail : reception@sagecc.org.sg Supported by: 20