The Voluntary Sector Network meeting – 13th November 2024
Chair Sandie Smith
Laura Porro
Laura attended the meeting to give an update on the ICS People Strategy. This has been a co-produced piece of work and is to cover the next 5 years.
It has been decided to have 5 mission areas.
- A more integrated and flexible workforce.
- An attractive system-wide career offer.
- A workforce with the skills and leadership for the future.
- An equal, diverse and inclusive workforce.
- Strong foundations for working together.
Nine actions have been shortlisted and prioritised from a long list of 69 identified actions. These will be taken forward by task and finish groups which will start in 2025.
The strategy is now being written and will include a traditional written strategy but will also have an interactive webpage to encourage more engagement.
As each chapter is written we will bring it back to the VSN for feedback. We want to ensure that we have the language right for all parties.
Laura has consulted the VSN strategy and has an advanced awareness of the voluntary sector so is making sure that this new strategy matches ours where appropriate.
The ICB are aware that changes sometimes take too long to happen/ implement, so we are looking at a different style of delivery method. We plan to have some smaller task and finish groups so work can be done in the background and thus speed up delivery. We may at this point come to the voluntary sector for involvement.
It was raised that some of the contracts from Health and other statutory bodies are now asking employers to pay the Real Living Wage which most organisations want to aspire to. However the cost implications for this are just not with raising the lower wages but having to up all wages. This was an issue before the government then asked for more
contributions. It was asked that there could be a commitment to the understanding of this.
Laura asked how this could be captured in the strategy.
ACTION Sandie to liaise with KS, SA, and JL and send out a paragraph to include in the strategy to reflect this.
It was acknowledged that there have been increased opportunities for training which has been taken up my some of the VSN members.
There is a willingness for some secondments into and from the ICS but the process for this needs consideration.
Director Update- Sandie
STRATEGY- the consultation on the strategy and action plan is now complete. It has been taken to the steering group and Andrea and Sandie have presented it to several ICS committees and a few tweaks have been made. Andrea will be taking it to the ICB executive meeting to get approval and then it will go to the Investment, Commissioning, improvement and Reform Committee in December. The Steering group will then sign this off ready for the launch at the January VSN meeting. A work plan will then be put in place to address actions.
NEW MODEL OF CARE- we have had some briefings on this and the aim is for there to be a digital improvement with an aim to make systems compatible and thus easy for all.
A workshop has been held around the potential providers of digital platforms. Invites went out to the Voluntary sector as well as others and included people with lived experience. When we have more information we will share it with the group.
NORTH PLACE DEVELOPMENT MEETING- Sandie had asked for people who may be interested in this after being offered some places for the voluntary sector. We had a lot of interest in this and Sandie has spoken to the chair to look at priorities for the areas and see which organisation was best placed. Sandie thanked people for their enthusiasm for this and those who have not been offered a place this time may find other opportunities are just around the corner. There are no notes for these meetings but Sandie said she may be able to include something from North and South in her news bulletins.
ACTION Sandie to source items for newsletter/ bulletin for future.
A mention of the Poverty Strategy Commission for Cambridgeshire- If groups want to submit evidence for the commissioners then they can do. Several organisations are involved including DISH, Reimagine, CAB and Sunnetwork.
Peterborough also has had the Poverty Truth Commission. This is due to end soon and they are holding a big event in February.
ACTION Sandie to include both links in the next newsletter.
MEETINGS- the next meeting is an in-person meeting being held in Hartford Village Hall. We have 3 of the Assura/ICB-funded projects coming to share their success and if any other Assura/ICB projects or collaborations would like to present please contact Debbie or Sandie.
We have had interest nationally in these funded projects as we worked with the Integrated neighbourhoods and NAVCA will be attending the December meeting and doing some filming.
Karen Nolan from Assura (Head of Social Impact) has also asked to attend.
We have invited Matthew Smith to present the ICS Outcomes Framework.
PLACE ON ICB BOARD- The steering group had been invited to submit a letter of request for a VSN place on the ICB board. The letter has been submitted and we are awaiting a response. Across the country, some VSNs have a place others do not.
VCSE Reps
We are pleased to say we have been offered 2 more places for VCSE reps. One for the Quality Performance and Finance Board and one for the People Board. These places will be funded until the end of the financial year.
ACTION – to send an email for Expressions of Interest to VSN members.
FEEDBACK– Miriam, Lynda and Keith were all present and fed back about the meetings they attended.
Miriam said that her committee had been looking at the wider impacts of the system ie planning permissions being given to fast food outlets near the school when childhood obesity is on the increase.
She was also pleased to hear that the impact on people who use a service, when late decisions on future funding happen was considered.
Action log
This was complete except for the sharing of slides from North Place from the last meeting. Debbie said she had been in contact with Abby and they would be with us soon for sharing.
AOB
Hunts Forum have AGM on 27th Nov CCVS has theirs on 28th Nov and PVCS on 14th.
Debbie reminded the group about the showcase event on 20th November