Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES)
Compact Consultation - Principles of Representation and Commissioning
What are the key principles voluntary and community groups feel need to be considered for them to be able to make an effective contribution to commissioning local services? Two draft documents that are an attempt to address this issue have been produced on behalf of the local Compact Board. The local Compact sets out how the voluntary and community sector and the statutory sector would work together for the benefit of the people of B&NES. It is hoped these principles documents, by being clear and simple, could help in guiding future commissioning approaches by statutory organisations and the way that voluntary and community sector representation takes place. They will also form the basis for revising the local Compact codes of good practice on involvement and funding. Please give your comments on the documents. Are they clear? Is there anything missing? See the draft principles at http://www.thecareforum.org/voluntary_sector/banes.php Please email comments on the principles documents to ronniewright@thecareforum.org.uk by midday on Friday 1 October.
B&NES Compact - Principles of Commissioning
B&NES Compact: Principles of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Representation
B&NES Carer Services Provider Forum
This new forum meets four times a year and is open to all who provide or commission services or who are interested in the provision of services to carers in B&NES. The focus of the provider forum is on voluntary and community sector service providers in B&NES. The provider forum provides the opportunity for regular liaison between providers of services to carers, the Health and Wellbeing Partnership, the wider council and Avon and Wiltshire NHS Partnership Trust. The development of a provider forum in B&NES is a useful link between the Health and Wellbeing Partnership, the wider council and providers to ensure that services are developed strategically and commissioned intelligently to meet the needs of local carers, in line with local plans and the national agenda including national and local carer strategies. The provider forum will also help to make sure that voluntary and community organisations are better informed about and able to respond to current local and national developments affecting their work. At each meeting there is a topic of discussion, usually generated by national or local policy relevant to carer services providers, and the opportunity to ask questions, share information and network with other providers.
Click here for the forum's terms of reference
Click here for forthcoming meetings
Click here for notes of previous meetings
If you would like to be added to join the forum or want any further information please complete the enquiry form here
B&NES Health and Social Care Network
Meets quarterly and is open to all voluntary and community sector agencies working in health and social care in B&NES. It provides an opportunity for VCS agencies working in the health and social care sector to share information and work together as well as a forum for VCS to discuss issues and consult with policy makers in the statutory sector. The network elects voluntary sector reps onto joint planning groups and receives feedback from them.
Click here for forthcoming meetings
Click here for notes of previous meetings
If you would like to be added to the mailing list or want any further information please complete the enquiry form here
B&NES Voluntary Sector Mental Health Network
Meets quarterly and is open to all VCS organisations with an involvement or interest in mental health in B&NES. The network elects voluntary sector reps onto the Mental Health Service development and Implementation Group and receives feedback. It provides an opportunity for VCS agencies working in mental health to share information and work together as well as a forum for VCS to discuss issues and consult with policy makers in the statutory sector.
Click here for forthcoming meetings
Click here for notes of previous meetings
If you would like to be added to the mailing list or want any further information please complete the enquiry form here
B&NES Voluntary Sector Older People's Network
The network meets four times a year. It is open to all voluntary sector groups with an interest or involvement in older people's services in B&NES, including older people's groups. The network gives members a chance to share information and hear about the latest developments in older people's services locally. It also means groups can to respond to, and inform service planners about, issues that affect voluntary organisations and older people generally. For more information complete an enquiry form here.
Information
We produce In Contact our regular monthly newsletter. We also produce regular ebulletins for people working in B&NES. We are always keen to include voluntary sector information in our publications. If you have any news or views to share please put the details on our enquiry form
Representation
In B&NES we provide representation on a range of multi agency joint planning groups including:
- Local Area Agreement Project Board
- Local Area Agreement VCS Steering Group
- Mental Health Service Development and Implementation Group
- Public Health Service Development and Implementation Group
- Patient and Public Involvement Development and Implementation Group
- Obesity Strategy Group
- Compact Board
If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a rep please click here and complete an enquiry form
B&NES Compact
The Compact is an agreement between voluntary and statutory organisations about the way they work together. The B&NES Compact, aims to improve mutual understanding and encourage a more effective working relationship. The Codes of Good Practice give more detailed guidance on how this agreement will operate in the four main areas of, Equalities, Funding, Involvement and Volunteering. Final versions of the Compact documents can be downloaded here. A draft code of good practice on Community Groups is being developed. There is also a Local Compact Board. Ronnie Wright from The Care Forum is the Champion for the Code of Good Practice on Involvement and sits on the Compact Board.
To see the B&NES Compact Click
ChangeUp
ChangeUp is a government initiative to strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors. The Care Forum is a member of the ChangeUp consortium covering South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. Click here for more information on ChangeUp
Bath and North East Somerset Local Involvement Network
The Bath and North East Somerset Local Involvement Network are currently looking for members and people interested in joining the Committee. Any organisation or individual interested in health or social care services in Bath and North East Somerset can join.
MEETING IN PUBLIC
Tuesday 1st September 10am-12pm
The Sulis Club Claverton Down Road Bath BA2 7AU.
Contact Us
We want to hear from you. If you have any thoughts about our services, would like to be a rep, have information you would like included in our information service, or would like to meet up to find out more about what we do, contact The Care Forum here.
Useful links
B&NES Local Strategic Partnership
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Reaching Out: Linking In equalities project in B&NES
Well Aware, The Care Forum's unique online database of local and nation services, groups and organisations that relate to health and well-being.