IRFU Charitable Trust – needs of seriously injured players

The IRFU Charitable Trust is, at its heart, a practical expression of solidarity with and respect for our colleagues who have been seriously injured while playing the game we all enjoy.

The mission of the Trust is to provide practical assistance to our seriously injured players in order to enhance their quality of life.

Where there is a clear benefit to one of our injured players, the Trust can augment publicly available services or provide services which might not otherwise be available.

The Trust can also help to enrich the lives of our seriously injured players by providing assistance that addresses some of the challenges they encounter as a result of their injury.

The Trust will respect the privacy of individual injured players.

All applications are subject to review by the Care committee & Trustees.  Approval is subject to the availability of funding.  Exceptional individual injured player circumstances will always be considered.

The Trust will have due regard at all times for the requirement to conduct its business in compliance with charity law and will aim for best practice in governance and administration, as set out by the Charities Regulator.

PERSONAL CARE

Personal care, usually but not exclusively in the home, can be of critical importance to a person with a serious injury.  Home care on the island of Ireland is funded, north and south, through the HSCNI (Health and Social care, Northern Ireland) and HSE (Health Service Executive) respectively. The Trust is not an alternative to these agencies and encourages injured players to explore fully their entitlements to public services.

Any support of personal care is at the discretion of the Trust.

There may be instances where the Trust is of the view that the injured player needs additional care hours, over and above what is provided by the HSCNI/HSE.  In such instances, additional care hours can be funded by the Trust.

The Trust is conscious that the needs of injured players and their domestic circumstances may change with the passage of time and will take that into consideration when assessing what level of support is appropriate.

If carers require training not provided by the HSE/HSCNI, the Trust may fund this carer training.

Some players may wish to deal directly with carers.  If so, issues of e.g. recruitment, employment, setting of conditions, vetting etc will be for the player to manage.  The Trust will not play a role in these matters. The Trust may support the player, including financially, but will not have a role beyond that.

HOUSING

Many injured players may need to adapt their homes and living environment to accommodate changes wrought by their injury.

The Trust encourages people to apply for assistance through the relevant authorities north and south of the border, for example, a Disabled Facilities Grant from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or a Housing Adaptations Grant which can be explored through local authorities.

The Trust may fund additional adaptations.  This would be subject to an assessment of the project, including of the suitability, viability and cost implications of the required works.  The personal desires of the injured players will be an important consideration in any such assessment.

Adaptations funded by the Trust may include areas not covered by the HAG such as kitchens, car ports, and sensory rooms.  It is the expectation of the Trust that input will be sought from an occupational therapist, funded through HSE/HSCNI or, if not available, by the Trust.

The Trust considers that the living area can include exterior patios and gardens.  The Trust, subject to assessment, may fund work on gardens to make them accessible.

EQUIPMENT

Specialised equipment is very important for daily living and for therapy.

Basic equipment is generally funded through the HSE/HSCNI.  This can include profiling bed and suitable mattress, hoist, shower chair/trolley, manual wheelchair, additions for manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchair, exercise bike, feeding aids & assistive technology.

Situations may arise where this is not funded by the HSE/HSCNI or not funded in a timely manner.  The Trust may consider funding any or all of the equipment that an injured player needs.  There must, of course, be a practical distinction between what is desired and what is required.  For example, requests for a hydrotherapy pool would not be automatically granted but will be considered on an individual basis.

The Trust may also commit to replacing or upgrading equipment as needs arise e.g. assistive technology should be reviewed regularly to take account of upgrades.  The Trust cannot monitor equipment or carry out assessments but it will respond to requests for funding for such assessments or equipment.

A serious injury does not necessarily diminish someone’s enthusiasm for sporting activity.  The Trust can support a player’s involvement in sport by funding relevant aids or adaptations for leisure activities such as golf, sailing, kayaking.  The Trust can also assist with gym membership.

The Trust aims to support a player to engage in domestic & vocational activities and will consider funding aids that facilitate such engagement e.g. a ride-on lawnmower.

The Trust may also enable a person to avail of alternative forms of lifestyle enhancement by funding access to equipment or services e.g. upgrading of home entertainment systems.

CARS

For many injured players, a suitable car is one of the most significant pieces of equipment they require.

The Trust can fund cars and necessary adaptions.  Players’ needs can be very different – some may need adaptations to an ordinary car.  Others may need an already adapted car.  Some will want to drive themselves; some may need to be driven.  Some may already have a car, the cost of which could be offset against the new purchase; others may not.  The Trust will approach each on a case-by-case basis.

When applicable, in the Republic of Ireland, players should apply for the primary medical certificate prior to car purchase.  In Northern Ireland, they should be encouraged to avail of the motability scheme.

In all its assessments regarding cars, the Trust will bear in mind how important suitable transport can be for players’ independence.

HEALTH

The Trust encourages all players to explore their public health service options.  In particular, the Trust encourages players to continue to attend NRH/Musgrave Park for all health needs related to SCI/BI/amputation.  Where it is deemed appropriate, the Trust may assist with private health insurance.

If appropriate e.g. where there are multiple requests or significant changes to health or social status, the Trust will consider funding an initial assessment of need and a pre-determined number of case management hours, to assist with signposting towards/utilising existing services.

Our injured players can encounter difficulty for a variety of reasons.  An existing condition may deteriorate.  New health needs may arise, including mental health.  If appropriate e.g. where there are multiple requests or significant changes to health or personal circumstances, the Trust will consider funding an initial assessment of need and a pre-determined number of case management hours, to assist with signposting towards/utilising existing services.

A player may be facing a long waiting time in the public health system and not have the benefit of private health insurance.  In such cases, the Trust can fund a private consultant appointment.  Depending on the outcome of that consultation i.e. what further care is required, the Trust will take an individual decision on whether care should revert to the public health system or be delivered privately.

Counselling services, if not available in a timely fashion through the public health service, can be funded by the Trust.

For players with complex behavioural management problems for whom services are not available through the public health system, the Trust may fund private treatment.

Where a new health problem arises relating to the SCI/BI/amputation, a public outpatient appointment should be sought.  Examples include a physiotherapy appointment for an upper limb overuse injury in someone with a spinal cord injury, a speech/language therapy appointment for a deterioration in speech for someone with a brain injury.  If specialist public appointments are not available, the Trust can fund private appointments. Where this occurs, the Trust will request a report on treatment delivered.

For patients with limb loss, a basic prosthesis is usually funded by the HSE/HSCNI.  Injured players should avail of these through the HSE/HSCNI to ensure they have the appropriate rehabilitation to accompany prosthesis use.  The Trust may, as needs arise, fund more sophisticated prostheses including those necessary for sports participation.

At no point does the Trust wish to be an alternative to the public service or a duplication.  For example, maintenance physiotherapy i.e. a stretching programme will not normally be funded by the Trust as this can be delivered by care staff.

HOLIDAYS/ACTIVITY BREAKS

The Trust will try to enable an injured player who wants to take breaks, be they activity breaks or simply holidays.  The Trust will, where appropriate, fund assistance for a personal assistant.  The Trust will also consider financial assistance for family members or close friends who may be able to deliver the care/reassurance that allows the injured player to enjoy a break.

PERSONAL PLANNING

The Trust recognises that seriously injured players may encounter financial or legal issues specifically as a result of their circumstances post-injury.  The Trust will not offer any financial or legal advice, but may assist by funding a player to seek advice as they see fit.  The Trust’s relationship is with the player and not with any professional adviser the player may engage.

If requested, the Trust may fund financial planning advice.  The Trust will not suggest/ recommend specific financial planners.

If requested the Trust may fund an initial consultation for legal advice re. wills, assisted decision making, enduring power of attorney.  Funding of further consultations will be discretionary.  The Trust will not suggest/recommend any particular legal practitioners.

All applications are subject to review by the Care committee & Trustees.

Approval is subject to the availability of funding.