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Action for ME: "We need your help! Connect M.E. survey"

Discussion in 'General ME/CFS news' started by Andy, Nov 20, 2018.

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  1. NelliePledge

    NelliePledge Moderator Staff Member

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    13,142
    Location:
    UK West Midlands
    :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
  2. Joel

    Joel Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    What would AfME's liability be for any volunteers who took some kind of advantage of patients? Checks only catch known ppl and even then only if ID can be certain which is actually tricky as you have to prove the ID then that it's the same person who actually turns up at the patient's door. It's a good idea - I came up with the same idea myself a few years ago but I decided it would be v difficult to implement it safely. You have to remember there are predatory ppl out there looking for access to vulnerable victims and you'd have to safeguard against that.
     
  3. wdb

    wdb Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Makes me wonder if the idea has been tried before to assist other groups of people like the elderly, perhaps we could learn some lessons from how it worked out for them. I've not found anything yet but it seems quite unlikely to me that something approximating this hasn't been attempted before somewhere in the world.
     
    alktipping, Joel, MeSci and 4 others like this.
  4. Trish

    Trish Moderator Staff Member

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    51,871
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    There are local initiatives already in some areas. For example befriending for lonely people, transport for hospital appointments, minor DIY jobs for elderly people, meals on wheels etc. All of these are organised and run by local groups and they are responsible for properly vetting and supervising their volunteers who they would know in person, not just via an app. And they would need insurance against things going wrong.

    But I doubt any of them provide volunteers to do the sort of things care agencies and cleaning agencies provide as regular paid services. People usually need these to be reliable and regular work, which you can't ask volunteers to do.
     
  5. Amw66

    Amw66 Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    6,262
    Is there no PVG process in England / Wales/ NI?

    In Scotland if you work/ regularly volunteer with groups classed as vulnerable , you have to be vetted via a national scheme: there are degrees of checks depending on the interaction.
    It is only as good as the records that are checked.

    I have to have certification for working on some contracts within a mental health setting. My employer pays for this.

    My son has a higher level of certification for working with autistic males (aged 16-25) .

    It is not a cheap process, as each person has to be checked.
     
  6. Alvin

    Alvin Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    3,309
    Invisible Woman and NelliePledge like this.
  7. Webdog

    Webdog Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    At least 1 person on the AfME board of directors believes they were cured of ME by the lightning process. Their overarching philosophy seems to be to try everything and see what works.

    This is not an organization I personally trust. I will say no more.
     
  8. NelliePledge

    NelliePledge Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    13,142
    Location:
    UK West Midlands
    Is there some evidence of that you can point us to @Webdog
     
    Invisible Woman, Amw66 and MEMarge like this.
  9. Webdog

    Webdog Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    No evidence I can post on a public forum, sorry. But PM me if you have questions.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2018
    Invisible Woman and Andy like this.
  10. fossil

    fossil Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    133
    While not the Lightning Process, I saw this quote recently on the Optimum Health Clinic site. The OHC is, in my opinion, of a similar ilk.

    “After 10 years as a trustee of Action for ME, and after struggling to get clarity when I wrote a book on ME in the late nineties, I just wish that the thorough and integrated approach at The Optimum Health Clinic had been available then.”

    Gill Jacobs

    https://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/patient-stories/

    (Not sure if the trustee status is past or present?)
     
  11. Andy

    Andy Committee Member

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  12. Cinders66

    Cinders66 Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    This might have worth, they’re presenting it as a helping hand, more like you might call on a friend. People with me can be hit as many friends fall away with this illdue to skepticism and it’s limitations

    However AFME specialise in DIY self management and volunteer stuff, part funded by government and in a country that medically also gives us the DIY ticket on everything I get frustrated. But AFME are never going to be what I want them to so perhaps I should stop judging them according to my own standards for a general national charity where they always fail.
     
  13. Trish

    Trish Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    51,871
    Location:
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    Yes there is police checking in England. Anyone working with vulnerable people as volunteers or professionally, including working with children has to be checked.
     
  14. ladycatlover

    ladycatlover Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    3,702
    Location:
    Liverpool, UK
    Thanks @Sly Saint. Not much use for housebound or bed bound then.

    (my bolding)
     
    MEMarge, TiredSam, alktipping and 3 others like this.

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