Department of Health and Social Care
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New programme revolutionises DH/Third Sector working
Third sector leaders join Health Minister to launch New Programme
The Department of Health has joined forces with 11 specialist organisations including Age Concern, the Men's Health Forum and the Race Equality Foundation in a bid to transform the way it works with third sector organisations, Care Services Minister Phil Hope announced today.
The £5.5 million 'Third Sector Strategic Partner programme' will support third sector organisations to build on their skills and knowledge to improve health and social care services and act as advocates, as well as ensuring input from the sector in developing health and social care policy..
The 'Strategic Partners', will strengthen links between the Department of Health and the third sector.
The eleven strategic partner organisations are:
* National Association of Voluntary and Community Action
* National Heart Forum
* Men's Health Forum
* Faith Action Network (Lifeline)
* RADAR / National Centre for Independent Living / Shaping Our Lives National User Network
* Age Concern England
* National Council for Palliative Care
* National Children's Bureau
* Race Equality Foundation
* Voluntary Organisations Disability Group / National Care Forum
* Regional Voluntary Sector Networks Forum
Each organisation will receive a share of £5.5 million of funding over the next three years. The programme will initially focus the work of strategic partners on:
* Improving the third sector's understanding of commissioning processes.
* The role for the sector in the personalisation agenda.
* Increasing understanding of health inequalities across the sector.
* Raising awareness of how emergencies such as a pandemic flu outbreak may affect the sector.
* Equality issues - including work to improve assessments of how policies affect minority groups.
* Improving the way the sector works at a regional level.
Phil Hope, Minister for Care Services said:
"Third sector organisations are involved in many areas of healthcare today - from advocacy for patients and carers, to providing front line services.
"The Strategic Partner Programme will play a vital role in supporting and engaging third sector organisations to work in partnership with the NHS, to deliver better health and social care services for everyone."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. For media enquiries only please contact the Department of Health newsdesk on 02072105221
2. Strategic Partners applied for various levels of funding. Full details of the awards made to each organisation will be made available shortly
3. Statements from the Strategic Partners:
Eve Richardson, CEO of the National Council for Palliative Care: 'As an umbrella organisation and charity, NCPC has long since recognised the power of partnership working to achieve our goals. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Department of Health and its diverse range of strategic partners to benefit all those commissioning, providing and requiring palliative and end of life care'
Jabeer Butt, Deputy Chief Executive, Race Equality Foundation. The black and minority ethnic-led third sector has proved to be uniquely able to support 'hard to reach' individuals and communities overcome inequalities in health and social care. The Race Equality Foundation, therefore, welcomes the investment from Department of Health in strengthening the third sector by building effective partnerships that will contribute to achieving health and social care improvements for all.
VODG / NCF
Working together the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) and the National Care Forum (NCF) are delighted to have been appointed as joint Strategic Partners by the Department of Health. Commenting John Adams (VODG) and Des Kelly (NCF) said, "This new investment programme offers an exceptional opportunity for the third sector to engage with the DH at all levels in the delivery of personalisation and the transformation of services. The changing demographics of people with disabilities and older people are the greatest challenge to public funding since the creation of the welfare state. It's critical therefore that we find ways for NHS and Local Council Commissioners to share and develop best commissioning and procurement practices with third sector providers - as a DH Strategic Partner this is what we will be seeking to achieve".
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, NAVCA
'This imaginative new Department of Health programme will transform relationships with the third sector and strengthen the local sector's delivery of social care services throughout England'.
Judy Robinson Director Yorkshire & Humber Regional Forum for Voluntary & Community Organisations and Chair of the Regional Networks Group.
"The voluntary sector is a key partner in helping to create healthy communities. So the 9 regional voluntary sector networks are delighted to be working with the DofH to make sure the right links and information is in place to join up all the great work of the sector with the planning and other processes of PCTs, the Strategic Health Authorities and the DofH. We look forward to working together."
Liz Sayce (RADAR):
"RADAR is delighted to be part of a powerful partnership of user-led organisations, with the National Centre for Independent Living and Shaping Our Lives, as a strategic partner to the Department of Health. Together we believe we can make more impact than we could separately, bringing together disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and those developing and delivering the policies that are critical to so many people's lives."
Fran Branfield (SOL):
"Shaping Our Lives are delighted to be working with RADAR and the National Centre for Independent Living as part of this exciting new programme. Acting as part of a Strategic Partnership with the Department of Health will enable Shaping Our Lives to facilitate effective two way communication and policy development between the Department and Shaping Our Lives' diverse network of service users."
Sue Bott (NCIL):
"NCIL looks forward to working in partnership with RADAR and Shaping Our Lives to engage user led organisations in the health and social care personalisation agenda through our strategic partnership with the Department of Health"
Sally Whitaker, Deputy Chief Executive, NCB : NCB is delighted to be a strategic partner to the Department of Health within its Third Sector Investment programme. As a membership and infrastructure support agency for the children and young people's sector, we will work hard increase stakeholder engagement in existing and emerging policy priorities, and strengthen capacity and partnership working within the third sector. This is a very exciting new programme and the approach the department is taking through the range of strategic partnerships with and between third sector agencies, is one to be admired and emulated by other funders and government departments.
Peter Baker, CEO Men's Health Forum
The Men's Health Forum is delighted to have been appointed as a Strategic Partner. This creates a major new opportunity to address gender inequalities in health. With one-third of men still dying prematurely, this is clearly a priority for the Department of Health, the NHS and the third sector. We can now look forward to much more systematic approach.
Daniel Singleton, FaithAction
"FaithAction is delighted with this opportunity to work closely with the Department of Health in their strategic partnership programme. Using this funding, FaithAction will continue to work with Faith based and Faith inspired organisations nationally to improve health services for some of the hardest to reach people."
Helena Herklots, Services Director (designate), Age Concern and Help the Aged:
"We are delighted to have been chosen as strategic partners by the Department of Health. It provides a great opportunity to create two way communications with government. Views of older people and third sector organisations will be reflected in policy development. Third sector organisations will be better informed about policy and service development."
Paul Lincoln, Chief Executive, National Heart Forum
The National Heart Forum welcomes the new strategic partnership arrangements with the DH, which recognise the vital and complimentary role the third sector plays in health advocacy and the development and delivery of the wider public health agenda.
