October 2024

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Voluntary Sector Network Update

‘Together for healthier communities’

Strategy Review

All the initial work has been done and now it is over to you, our members, the wider VCSE sector and partners to tell us what you think. You can do this by either completing a short survey or by coming to one of the listening events we are holding.

We will be taking the review and plan to the ICB so we can get their sign up and agreement to take forward their actions. We’re aiming to launch the new action plan in January 2025. You can find the review document and the revised action plane on our webpage: Health – Support Cambridgeshire

You can find the survey here. Email Debbie to book a space for the second online listening event on 9th October at 1pm.

All about workforce

September’s VSN meeting focussed on workforce. We heard from an NHS England colleague about the ‘No More Tick Boxes’ approach to workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. As a result of the discussion a bespoke two-stage training course on inclusive recruitment and career progression has been set up for VCSE colleagues. The first is on 15th October on Teams and the second on 11th November in person at The Maple Centre. You will need to be both to attend both sessions. Please fill in this form to apply for a place.

We also heard from Andrea Grosbois about the CPFT/VCSE mentoring pilot scheme, coordinated by the ICB, which is now open for applications. The idea is that VCSE leaders sign up to mentor CPFT colleagues. If you are interested you can express your interest using this form. We hope you’ll agree that this is great way for our statutory colleagues to learn about how we work and the amazing value of our sector! Once evaluated we are hopeful that other ICS organisations will sign up to a county-wide scheme.

There is an open invitation for VCSE organisations to use the ICB recruitment website ‘Just R’. The ICB are keen for us to use this, so if you have any vacancies you would like advertised please contact Melanie Paine; melanie.paine1@nhs.net.

Letter to health and social care leaders

Some of our members have expressed concern at the decoupling of the health and social care Learning Disability Partnership. The partnership has been jointly funded for many years and seen as a beacon of best practice. The VSN has written to the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council and the Chair of the ICB to express its concern at the retrogressive step and the impact on local people.

The Darzi Review

The report from this review sets out an in-depth understanding of the current performance of the NHS across England and the challenges facing the healthcare system. The VCSE sector features as an essential partner if improvements are to be made. Here are some links to find out more about the findings of this independent investigation, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

The full report is here and this is a useful summary.

Want to spread the word about your fundraising events?

We’ve been told by members and partners that it would be useful if the VSN could include details of our members’ big fundraising events. If you have any big fundraising events planned, let me know and I will include them in future editions. sandie@huntsforum.org.uk

Voluntary Sector Network meetings

Our October meeting will be all about Peterborough. We are delighted to be able to welcome Dr Abby Richardson, clinical lead for the North Care Partnership and Adult Social Care leads from Peterborough City Council.

Further information

You can find more information about the strategy review, notes from previous Voluntary Sector Network meetings and newsletters on our webpage here.