Twenty innovative
new projects, designed by frontline NHS staff to transform patient
care were today announced by Care Services Minister Phil Hope on
Social Enterprise Day.
All frontline staff working in Primary Care Trusts can set up a
social enterprise to improve their services under the “right to
request” scheme. This first wave of projects include a wide range
of services, including those for homeless people, children and
young people and mental health services.
The initiative to encourage and support social enterprises is the
first of its kind in the world.
Each of the 20 organisations will receive £30,000 of Department
of Health funding; a dedicated mentor and access to professional
development opportunities that will help ensure their social
enterprise is a success.
Phil Hope, Minister of State for Care Services and
East Midland Minister, said:
“Frontline staff see first hand how effective local services are,
what works and what doesn’t. I want staff to use their specialist
skills and knowledge to transform local services and improve the
health and wellbeing of patients and users.
“I am delighted that twenty organisations have won support and
funding to set up a social enterprise through our ‘right to
request’ scheme. I look forward to seeing many more in future.”
Chief Executive of the Social
Enterprise Coalition Jonathan Bland said:
“The social enterprise sector is diverse with more than 6,000
social enterprises estimated to be delivering health and social
care in the UK. This figure continues to rise as growing numbers
of health and social care professionals look at social enterprise
as a viable option to tackle unmet needs and address health
inequalities.”
Funding and support for NHS staff considering pursuing social
enterprise is being provided by the Social Enterprise Unit at the
Department of Health and the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.
Notes to Editors
A social enterprise is a dynamic business with primarily social
objectives, where surpluses are principally reinvested for that
purpose in the business or in the community.
Through the Department of Health’s Right to Request scheme, all
primary and community care staff employed by PCTs can put forward
a business case to set up a social enterprise. If approved, their
PCT will support the development of the social enterprise and
award it a contract to provide services.
The first wave of social enterprises within the
NHS
The proposals to deliver primary and community services as social
enterprises within the NHS include individual clinician-led
services for the homeless, those in custodial/offender care
environments, mental health services, dental services and services
for children and young people and whole PCT provider arms
delivering a full range of integrated community and primary care
services.
The first wave projects include a variety of services offered by:
Derby City PCT, Bedfordshire PCT, Luton PCT, Norfolk PCT, North
East Essex PCT, Salford PCT, Hull PCT, North East Lincolnshire
Care Trust Plus, Wakefield PCT, Leicester City PCT, Bexley Care
Trust, Bromley PCT, Kingston PCT, Medway PCT, Mid Essex PCT, South
East Essex, West Essex PCT and Barking and Dagenham PCT.
This right to request project will allow NHS staff to explore a
different model of service delivery. Each application has received
the approval of the relevant Primary Care Trust (PCT) and
Strategic Health Authority (SHA). With appropriate support, the
projects should go on to become successful and financially viable
organisations that strengthen the delivery of tailored health and
social care services in the NHS.
More information about the Department of Health’s social
enterprise programme can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/socialenterprise
Right to Request How-To Guide
Under the ‘right to request’ commitment in the Next Stage
Review, PCT boards are obliged to consider social enterprise
requests from staff and, if approved, support the development of
the social enterprise.
A ‘how-to’ guide, co-produced by the Department of Health and
Social Enterprise Coalition, for staff considering the ‘right to
request’ to set up a social enterprise can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_090460
Social Enterprise
Investment Fund (SEIF)
The £100m SEIF provides loans, grants and business support for
start up and established social enterprises that are providing
health and social care services in England. More information about
the SEIF can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/seif.
For more information please contact Shaheena Sachedina or Katie
McCory on 0207403 2230 or email shaheena@forster.co.uk or
katie@forster.co.uk
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk