Health and Social Care
From time to time, Regional Voices partners work together on joint projects, the largest of which is being one of 16 strategic partners to the Department of Health.
Health and social care is one of the main fields of activity for voluntary and community organisations.
It is estimated that 54% of all people employed in VCOs work in social care – and 22% of volunteers are engaged in health and disability related activities.
A high proportion of VCOs engaged in health and care work are relatively small and will never be part of the commissioning and contracting market – yet they play a critical role in addressing health inequalities and improving public health and well-being.
Through the 9 regional networks, Regional Voices works with the other strategic partners to ensure that the voluntary and community sector are kept as up to date with the changing health and social care landscape as possible. In addition, we regularly take feedback on issues affecting the sector directly to the Department of Health.
To achieve this we have produced a range of publications on health and social care which can be accessed by clicking here
We also hold information and consultation events for the sector on emerging issues, including recent events on the Health White Paper (September 2010) and Public Health White Paper (Feb / March 2011). These are held at venues throughout the whole country to enable as many people as possible from across the full scope of the voluntary and community sector to attend.
Regional Voices is currently conducting some initial mapping of the way in which GP consortia pathfinders are emerging. This will be published on our website as soon as possible.
Jo Whaley is the Project Manager for ‘Stronger Connections for Better Health’. Jo is based at Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Forum – contact Jo on Jo.Whaley@regionalvoices.org or call 0113 394 2300.