Tag Archive for: Hewitt Review

VCSE Health Alliance – Update Bulletin – September 2023

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September 2023

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough VCSE Health Alliance Bulletin 

 

Focus on workforce 

Every health and care organisation is struggling to find and keep workforce. The VCSE sector is no exception to this. The CEO Network has had many discussions on this topic and now, at its September meeting, the Health Alliance will be exploring how we can help organisations with these challenges. 

Sharon Allen, CEO at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, is the Health Alliance rep on the ICB People’s Board and has been doing a great job working to get the voluntary sector voice heard in all things workforce. Sharon will introduce the session at the September meeting and we hope to have ICB experts coming along to aid discussions.     

Please do come along and share your thoughts, ideas and concerns. From 2pm to 4pm at The Hub, Cambourne. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Extending our reach 

We are always wanting new members and are working hard to extend the reach of the Health Alliance. We have looked at our current membership and would more representation amongst small community groups, faith groups and groups working in East Cambridgeshire. Groups and organisations specifically working with excluded communities are particularly welcome to help us build greater diversity. 

Building a collaborative network 

How often have you received information about a source of funding that has a ridiculously short turnaround time? To help the sector prepare for these opportunities, we will soon be circulating a project development form and asking for you to tell us about your proposal. We’ll make sure the form works for large and small organisations and ask for proposals that will encourage partnership and collaboration.  

Progress on developing our brand 

Work has started on gathering your views and ideas about our Health Alliance partnership and what it means to you. You will shortly be receiving a survey from PCVS asking for your feedback and how well you think we convey our vision and purpose. Please do take a few minutes to complete this; the findings will help the steering group develop the next stage. 

We are looking for people to join the steering group for this very exciting piece of work. If you are interested please email Sandie. There’ll also be an opportunity to ask questions at the September Health Alliance meeting.

Safeguarding update 

With thanks to the Local Safeguarding Board who are now supporting our work to develop guidance and policies. Also, thanks to Sallyann at Hunts Forum for taking this forward. We’ll make sure that the guidance is easy to follow and works for all of our VCSE partners. We’re keen to get more organisations to commit to supporting our Health Alliance safeguarding policy statement. Email Sandie if you would like to know more. 

Mental health community workers – Health and wellbeing network event   

The next Health and Wellbeing Network meeting is on 5th September online from 11am to 12pm. Claire Layton will be joining the meeting to tell us how the Mental Health Community Connectors are helping within their communities and what their role entails. Book your place here.  

Our meetings  

Here are the dates of our future meetings, please do put them in your diary. We have tried to get a mix of times, locations and formats to help as many people as possible get involved. The September meeting will have a workforce focus and after that we are alternating themes with general Health Alliance business. If you would like to suggest a theme please contact sandie@huntsforum.org.uk. 

  • 13th September 2-4 Focus on workforce    –  Cambourne Hub 
  • 18th October 9.30-11.30 Health Alliance business    –   Zoom 
  • 6th December 1-3pm Theme to confirm    –   Zoom 
  • 17th January 1-3 Health Alliance business   –  March Library 
  • 28th February 9.30-11.30 Theme to confirm  –   Zoom 
  • 17th April 1-3 Health Alliance business  –  Peterborough  
  • 22nd May 10-12 Theme to confirm  –  St Ives Corn Exchange 

More members please! 

And lastly, please do pass this newsletter onto your team and other groups and organisations who may not yet be Health Alliance members. Anyone wishing to join should email Debbie Debbie@huntsforum.org.uk. 

 

See here for more information about the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health Alliance. Please note: We’re revamping our webpage to bring it up to date with current projects and resources. As ever, please do let us have your feedback.   

VCSE Health Alliance – Update Bulletin – August 2023

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August 2023

Getting our voices heard

The funding we have received for representation offers an opportunity for Health Alliance reps to join several of the Integrated Care System decision-making committees. Reports from these reps are on the Health Alliance webpage (see link at the end).

We are also writing guidance so we can all be clear about what are the expectations around representation and how we support better engagement and listing who is doing what. We’ll let you know when this is available. It will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Please contact Debbie if you are interested in taking on a rep role. Training is available to help upskill people. We are always looking at ways to expand the funding and so offer more reimbursed opportunities.

Using voluntary sector data

Our sector gathers and processes an enormous amount of data about our services and the people we work with. Over the past months Cambridge CAB have been leading a piece of work to see how this data can contribute to Integrated Care Board (ICB) data at a local level. Initially, focused on an area of Cambridge, what we learn about the different types of data and how to combine and analyse will help us replicate in other areas. Jeremy Lane, Associate Director of Business Intelligence at the ICB said:

 ‘The more we know about local people and their needs, the better we can design services and make a difference. It’s vital therefore that we work closely with all our ICS partners across health, local authority and VCSE organisations to share and explore data together to build a clearer picture and improve care.’

The Hewitt Review

Published in April this year, The Hewitt Review, looked at how Integrated Care Systems are working and sets out recommendations for the next stage. Thinktank, Carnall Farrar have summarised the findings on this visual. Over the coming months we will be looking at the recommendations and how these read across to current plans. We will be circulating our conclusions and inviting ideas and discussion.

Keeping people safe

With thanks to everyone who has signed up so far to the Health Alliance Safeguarding Statement. Colleagues at Hunts Forum are now starting to develop a set of policies and guidance. After that we’ll be compiling training resources and opportunities for further advice and support. Email Sandie if you would like to commit to supporting the statement sandie@huntsforum.org.uk

Health Alliance branding

We are delighted to have received some ICB funding to develop a clear brand for the Health Alliance. Peterborough CVS are leading this piece of work and will ensure that the views of the sector are taken into account. Christina Alexander, PCVS CEO, said:

‘We’re very excited to be part of the Health Alliance representing Peterborough and Cambridgeshire and look forward to working with our VCS partners to develop a clear and recognisable identity for the group’

We are looking for groups to join the steering group for this work. If you are interested please email Kalai at PCVS  kalai.short@pcvs.co.uk

Our meetings

Here are the dates of our future meetings, please do put them in your diary. We have tried to get a mix of times, locations and formats to help as many people as possible get involved. The September meeting will have a workforce focus.

  • 13th September 2-4 Cambourne Hub
  • 18th October 9.30-11.30 Zoom
  • 6th December 1-3pm Zoom
  • 17th January 1-3 March Library
  • 28th February 9.30-11.30 Zoom
  • 17th April 1-3 Peterborough (venue TBC)
  • 22nd May 10-12 St Ives Corn exchange
More members please ! And lastly, please do pass this newsletter onto your team and other groups and organisations who may not yet be Health Alliance members. Anyone wishing to join should email Debbie Debbie@huntsforum.org.uk    See here for more information about the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Health Alliance