Consultations launched into voluntary sector role in health and care
Two consultations published today will help to determine the future of voluntary sector involvement in health and care (7 August 2015).
As part of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) review, respondents from the voluntary and health and social care sectors will give their views on the current state of partnership working, and how closer collaboration could be fostered.
The second consultation will also seek views on the role and effectiveness of the government’s current ‘voluntary sector investment partnership’ suite of grants.
Commissioned by the Department of Health, NHS England, and Public Health England, the VCSE review is overseen by its advisory group of representatives including those from the voluntary sector.
Both consultations will remain open until Friday 6 November and are available to complete below:
- Link to the consultation: VCSE Review – Discussion Paper on the Voluntary Sector Investment Programme
- Link the the consultation: VCSE Review – Discussion paper on the challenges and solutions to better investment in and partnership with the VCSE sector
The group will report early next year.
NHS England Chief Executive, Simon Stevens, said: “I think it is essential that NHS England is working with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sectors in co-producing the future of our NHS. We are working closely with VCSE organisations in the future direction for cancer, mental health, learning disability and other services.
“The health service needs to think beyond the narrowly drawn notion of the national health service itself because we are, and always have been, heavily dependent on the support of the VCSE sector – 3 million volunteers and 5.5 million carers, 1.4 million of whom are full-time doing more than 50 hours a week unpaid as carers.
“The work of VCSE organisations is often not highly visible but makes a huge impact on the lives of millions, often reaching people that do not typically access NHS services and experience the greatest health inequalities. The sector provides benefits not only for the residents of a local CCG but also for the good functioning of the local health service. If we want to get serious about demand moderation and the rate of growth of services, we should not forget about the good work that is being done, and in fact more that can be done, by those other parts of the local community. I am therefore really pleased that this Review is looking at how we can improve partnerships with the VCSE sector.”