Welcome to the Voluntary and Community Sector webpage which provides a range of information we hope will be of value to you. The information on this webpage has been developed following feedback from representatives from the Voluntary and Community Sector in Somerset. This included suggestions from the round table discussions at our Voluntary and Community Sector event which was held on 1 October 2008 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton. If you have any further comments about what else would be helpful to have on this webpage please use the feedback facility by clicking on the following link
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO THE NEWS SECTION
VCS Online Registration - Click here to register
Somerset Primary Care Trust would like to develop a better understanding of voluntary and community sector organisations in Somerset and to help support this we invite you to register your details on line. We will send relevant information to organisations that have registered, relating to the priorities and work of the Primary Care Trust and from time to time will also make requests for feedback and information relating to the needs of local communities.
If the contact details for your organisation change, could you please provide the updated details by completing the form again in full and ticking the appropriate box.
Somerset Primary Care Trust is committed to improving the way we work in partnership with voluntary and community organisations in line with the principles within the Somerset Compact and has developed a Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy which was launched on 1 October 2008.
Through the implementation of this strategy Somerset Primary Care Trust anticipates that we will:
- achieve better health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals and communities within Somerset
- achieve efficiency gains through smarter and more effective and innovative commissioning
- achieve optimal involvement of voluntary and community sector organisations in service design, service improvement and service delivery
Our aim is to:
- gain a better understanding of the needs of service users and communities by engaging with voluntary and community organisations, as advocates, to access their specialist expertise and knowledge
- consult with voluntary and community sector groups well in advance of commissioning new services, working with them to set priority outcomes for that service
- ensure the services commissioned are responsive to the needs of individuals and achieve better outcomes for people
- have a fullest possible understanding of the range of voluntary and community sector providers in Somerset and the contribution they could make to delivering improved health outcomes
- invest in the voluntary and community sector infrastructure with a view to improving the capacity and capability of the sector
- ensure our commissioning processes are clear, transparent and fair, supporting the involvement of the broadest range of providers
- offer long term contracts and risk sharing, where appropriate
- ensure feedback from service users, communities and voluntary sector providers informs the ongoing effectiveness of the commissioning process
What does the strategy say?
The Development of a good communication framework including:
- webpage specifically relating to voluntary and community organisations
- on-line register - giving voluntary and community organisations the opportunity to register their details and become part of the Primary Care Trust's voluntary and community sector network
- an annual event giving voluntary and community sector organisations the opportunity to hear about the Primary Care Trust's current priorities and development plans, and to share the work that is already happening in the community
The introduction of clear processes including:
- guidance and application form for small grant applications
- process for organisations who are interested in becoming service providers to register an expression of interest
Good practice for funding contracts including:
- use of service level agreements and service specifications
- introduction of full cost recovery where appropriate
- introduction of minimum 3 year contracts
- a focus on outcomes with a view to encouraging innovation
Monitoring and evaluation including:
- the development of a consistent approach
- a focus on outcomes rather than processes
- monitoring that is proportionate to the size of contract
- introducting of a collaborative approach to reporting frameworks and timescales, avoiding duplication for voluntary and community sector organisations wherever possible
National Policy Links:
Local Policy Links:
The Voluntary Sector and the Coalition Government
A briefing paper giving the essential facts about what the Coalition Government has to say about the voluntary sector has been prepared by Rebecca Hardwick of the South West Development Centre. To download please click on the Voluntary Sector and Coalition Government briefing document.
Somerset Voluntary and Community Sector Conference
The Somerset Voluntary and Community Sector Conference took place on Tuesday 17 November 2009 at Canalside Conference Centre, Bridgwater, Somerset. NHS Somerset, in partnership with the Somerset Voluntary Sector Network and Somerset County Council developed an interactive programme for the day, which reflected on the progress made over the last year and looked forward to how we can tackle health inequalities together.
Delegates received an introduction to the day from Jan Hull, Deputy Chief Executive NHS Somerset, Miriam Maddison, Corporate Director Somerset County Council and Libby Lisgo, Chair of Somerset Voluntary Sector Network. Following this session delegates were provided with a brief introduction to health inequalities by Caroline Gamlin, Joint Director of Public Health, before taking part in an interactive session to help identify inequalities experienced by the population of Somerset. The morning ended with the Annual Meeting of Somerset Voluntary Sector Network and the launch of the Somerset Community Infrastructure Providers Partnership.
The afternoon session was dedicated to six projects of good practice who showcased their work as part of an Interactive Speed Dating Session. Delegates were provided with the opportunity to hear about how the projects have been implemented and found it a useful way of learning more about what is happening in Somerset.
The conference was well attended by representatives from a wide range of voluntary and community sector organisations in Somerset, as well as those from the public sector. Delegate feedback relating to the speakers and sessions was very positive.
Understanding the new NHS commissioning environment
A useful link is provided below with information presented at a seminar on understanding the new NHS commissioning environment, providing the third and social enterprise sectors with information about commissioning developments.
The event was to inform third sector strategic leaders to support organisations in the third and social enterprise sectors to work with primary care trusts and practice based commissioners. The commissioning environment is ever changing and the seminar covered the essential components of commissioning and system management within the NHS and helps to identify and address the key opportunities and issues for third sector and social enterprise organisations.
The link to the information provided at the seminar is http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Commissioning/Systemmanagement/DH_091089
Putting People First: working together with use led organisations
The guidance outlines the benefits that local authorities and their residents enjoy when working with user-led organisations (ULOs). These benefits include:
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Wider delivery of personalisation agenda
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Improved engagement with hard to reach groups
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Added value to delivery programmes such as health promotion, community empowerment, social inclusion, independent living
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Reduction of health inequalities, helping people to access health and social care systems more successfully
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Strengthen use of the Somerset Compact
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Outcomes reflected in Comprehensive Area Assessment
User led organisations are organisation led and controlled by the very people they help, brought together with a common purpose – with a particular emphasis on impairments, both physical and learning disabilities, mental health service users, older people, carers and people from ethnic backgrounds.
Further details on user led organisations can be seen by visiting www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Socialcarereform/Userledorganisations/index.htm
For further information please contact:
Penny Guppy
Public Health Specialist
Telephone: 01935 384021
Email: penny.guppy@somerset.nhs.uk
