Northern Ireland Dementia Forum

The Northern Ireland Dementia Forum is a multidisciplinary group committed to the development and promotion of quality and professional standards, which incorporate the views of people with dementia and their families.

The group will strive to advance best practice through information sharing and awareness raising. The group is committed to influencing local, departmental and government agencies in all aspects of dementia care.

Aims

As practitioners working within the field of dementia care:

To raise the profile, needs and experiences of people with dementia and their families with relevant statutory bodies, commissioners, political figures and the general public.
To work in partnership with other agencies, including our colleagues from across the border, to represent the views and needs of people with dementia and their families.
To promote, develop and share good multidisciplinary practice, research and innovation
To influence standard setting within dementia care
To influence policy development by responding to policy documents
To support the development and sustainability of the Dementia Service Development Centre, Northern Ireland
To promote best practice in dementia care within specific education and training bodies.

Membership

Membership of the Northern Ireland Dementia Forum is by nomination from each Trust in the province.
Additionally the forum with have representation from the three main voluntary agencies, i.e Alzheimer’s Society, Age Concern and Help the Aged who will act as representative for people with Dementia and their families
Each member is a communications champion for the Forum within their organisation and is responsible for ensuring that relevant information is disseminated with organisation.

Role and responsibilities of members

Representatives have a responsibility to ensure that they are actively contributing to achieving the aims of the Forum.

Representatives will also

Attend meetings - send apologies if appropriate
Feedback information to relevant bodies/individuals
Share information amongst member groups
Become involved in subgroups internal and external as appropriate
Inform chairperson of any changes in circumstance affecting their role as representative
Forward agenda items to the chairperson before meetings if possible

Role and responsibility of Chairperson

The chairperson, or vice-chairperson in the absence of the chairperson, will be required to attend all meetings of the partnership The chairperson, or vice-chairperson, will be responsible for ensuring that the business of the partnership , including meetings, is conducted in a an orderly fashion. It is anticipated that the nominated members from the Host Trust will hold the post of chairperson and secretary, and that the Host Trust will rotate on an annual basis.

Chair and Vice – Chair

The role of Chair and Vice Chair will rotate between Trusts each year.

Remit of office bearers

The remit of the chair person, including their authority to act on behalf of, and as spokesperson for, the Forum without having to refer all issues to a full meeting, will be agreed at the first meeting of the Forum each year.

Meetings

The Forum will meet 6 times per year to share good practice and agree work of subgroups

The Forum shall be supported by subgroup responsible for each objective.

NI Dementia Forum Constitution
Reviewed 9th April 2008