01.02.13
Building Health Partnerships programme launched
Funding has been announced to help communities to build partnerships with CCGs, to improve health service delivery. 12 areas will receive up to £50,000 each to support the Building Health Partnerships programme, which will develop and share best practice between health commissioners and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
The programme will see partners develop new ways of working together, identifying gaps in health services and considering how they can contribute to filling them.
The 12 areas are: Bristol; Croydon; City & Hackney; Dudley; Durham; Hampshire; Bradford & Airedale; Manchester; Shropshire; Staffordshire; Swindon; and Wakefield.
They will also receive training support to improve engagement with health commissioners.
The Building Health Partnerships programme is being delivered in partnership with the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA), Social Enterprise UK, the Institute for Voluntary Action Research and the NHS Commissioning Board.
Tim Kelsey, the NHS Commissioning Board’s national director for patients and information, said: “The NHS can’t operate in isolation. The NHS Commissioning Board wants to foster a culture of openness and partnership with people who use the service and the organisations that support them. This includes partnerships with the voluntary sector, which are critical to improving outcomes for people.
“We want to work with you to design the ways we can have great insight. Your organisations have experience, insight, data and knowledge that is an important part of how commissioners can improve their understanding of what services are needed and how to support people to use those services
“Local communities and voluntary sector partnerships need to be at the heart of how the new system operates. Increasing participation and supporting active citizens is essential, not just an added extra.”
Ceri Jones, head of policy and research at Social Enterprise UK, said: “This programme aims to bridge the gap of understanding between the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and the new CCGs. Groups of local clinicians are going to be responsible for commissioning for the first time and it’s important they understand what our sector can bring to communities.
“Social enterprises and the voluntary sector have been delivering quality health and social care services for years, including to the hard-to-reach, and we need to ensure they continue to be commissioned to meet the needs of people across England.”
Neil Cleeveley, director of policy and communications at NAVCA said: “Involving charities, community groups and social enterprises in the design and delivery of health and social care services improves local services and offers value for money. This programme will help commissioners and voluntary organisations work together to bring real and lasting benefits to local communities. Indeed, the lessons we learn have the potential to make a difference beyond health and care services to influence the commissioning of all public services.”
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