In this month's edition...
Department of Health and Social Care ministerial updates
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed a new cabinet. In the Department of Health and Social Care the Rt Hon. Matt Hancock MP remains Secretary of State. Chris Skidmore MP has replaced Stephen Hammond MP as Minister of State for Health. Caroline Dineage MP remains Minster of State for Care. Jo Churchill MP has replaced Seema Kennedy MP as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for prevention, public health and primary care. Her responsibilities include the voluntary sector and social prescribing. Nadine Dorries MP has replaced Jackie Doyle Price MP as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for mental health, suicide prevention and patient safety. Baroness Blackwood remains Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lords) within the department. Read more about them here
Ministry of Justice ministerial updates
At the Ministry of Justice The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, previously Minister of State for Justice, succeeds Rt Hon David Gauke MP as the new Secretary of State for Justice. Lucy Frazer QC MP is now Minister of State for Justice, her responsibilities include prison operations, probation services, women and health. Edward Argar MP remains Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice but his portfolio has changed substantially and his responsibilities now include court reform and sentencing. Responsibility for youth justice and race disparity now sits with Wendy Morton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. Read our blog for more details here
Children and young people’s mental health funding
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced the 23 successful projects being awarded funding under the Health and Wellbeing Fund. This year's theme was children and young people's mental health. Thousands of young people across England will benefit from new mental health support including counselling, mentoring and arts programmes in their communities. A full list of projects can be found here
Consultation on preventable ill health
A consultation on ‘Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s’ is now open. The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking views on proposals to tackle the causes of preventable ill health in England. The consultation acknowledges that our health is shaped by the environment in which we live, the choices we make, and the services we receive. It recognises that there are also certain groups who experience poorer health outcomes than the wider population, and makes specific reference to people in prison or in the community. This consultation closes on 14th October 2019. Respond here
Europe’s largest survey of patients
Results of the GP Patient Survey 2019 have been published. They indicate that more than eight out of ten people still have a good experience of their GP practice and more than nine in ten have confidence and trust in the professionals they see or speak to. Feedback showed areas for improvement, including people contacting practices by telephone and making appointments. More than 770,500 people took part. There is an analysis tool to help explore the survey and produce reports here
Upcoming changes to the Friends and Family Test
NHS England has announced changes to improve the Friends and Family Test (FFT) as a tool for enabling continuous improvement in healthcare services. This includes changing the standard FFT question, which was something that many people said they wanted during nine months of consultations with providers, commissioners, partners and the public. NHS England has also listened to views on how the FFT could work better in maternity services, emergency departments and inpatients services. Revised FFT guidance is expected to be published in September for implementation from April next year. You can see what’s changing here
Films on shared decision making
Lily Sharma from the NHS is making film case studies about shared decision making. She is looking for seldom heard patients, particularly members of the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community, to talk to her about their experiences of shared decision making. If you or anyone you work with would be willing to have a filmed discussion, please contact Lily at lily.sharma@nhs.net or england.shareddecisionmaking@nhs.net
Bringing nature and green space to prisons improves wellbeing
A newly published evaluation of Unlocking Nature, from researchers at Coventry University, shows that bringing nature into Wandsworth prison has had many positive outcomes for prisoners and staff, including improved relationships. Unlocking Nature was established in response to a call from the National Offender Management Service for voluntary sector projects which supported the prison reform agenda and reduced reoffending. Its aim was to improve the physical environment of Wandsworth prison and to introduce a range of land-based activities that would support rehabilitation. Before the start of the Unlocking Nature project, there was little or no green space within the prison and the view from cell windows was almost unchanged over the past 168 years. Read more here
Faith-based organisations tackling loneliness
Right Up Your Street: Faith’s response to loneliness, a report from FaithAction, highlights some of the ways in which faith groups are working to tackle loneliness and isolation. It analyses the key features of their work and calls for more links between faith groups and other organisations – for example, those involved in social prescribing – as part of a national drive to end loneliness. Download the report here (requires free registration)
Relationships between statutory and voluntary sector mental health organisations
The Association of Mental Health Providers has published research examining the relationships between statutory and voluntary sector mental health organisations, which they commissioned the Centre for Mental Health to undertake. According to the report, voluntary and community organisations provide essential support for people’s mental health that complements what statutory services can offer, but financial pressures are putting them under severe strain. The report, Arm in arm, warns that voluntary and community organisations face numerous financial barriers including reductions in local government funding, short-term and ‘more for less’ contracts, unpredictable and delayed decision-making, and the unintended consequences of national policies. Smaller organisations are particularly at risk following the introduction of Integrated Care Systems. Read the report here
Patient and public involvement in the voluntary sector
NHS England and NHS Improvement’s ‘celebrating involvement in healthcare’ community grants scheme is now open for applications. Grants of up to £2500 are available to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to showcase how they have been involving patients, service users and the public in improving health services. Full details of eligibility and how to apply can be found on the NHS England and NHS Improvement website. Apply before midnight on 23rd September 2019 here
Improving health and wellbeing
The GSK IMPACT Awards are now open for applications. The awards provide core funding, training and national recognition for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Up to 20 awards will be made ranging from £3,000 to £40,000. Winning organisations will have a film made, receive support with press and publicity and be given a set of promotional materials. They will also be offered free training and development valued at a further £9,500. Participants will then be invited to join the GSK IMPACT Awards Network which connects past award winners both online and at meetings, to get and give support, share best practice and continue their professional development. Apply before 23rd September here
System architecture of an integrated care system
This document from NHS England outlines the 'system architecture' of an integrated care system (i.e. system, place and neighbourhoods) and also details the maturity matrix for integrated care systems which includes how the voluntary sector should be involved in leadership. Read it here
The role of charities in the design of health and social care services
How can voluntary organisations influence and shape health service transformation? NCVO is holding a workshop [12th September, London, free] as part of Transforming Healthcare Together, a national programme of support for voluntary organisations and NHS organisations building partnerships. The workshop aims to increase knowledge and understanding of: NHS structures; how the voluntary sector can respond to and align with statutory-sector priorities; the key components of good collaboration – with case studies; what is working well in emerging partnerships and how challenges have been overcome. Book your place here
Using insight for improvement
The Insight & Feedback team at NHS England are working with the Patient Experience Network (PEN) to run four full-day events on ‘Using insight for improvement’ [1st October, Birmingham | 9th October, London | 15th October, Peterborough | 23rd October, Leeds | free]. There will be a slot about implementing the new-look Friends and Family Test, following publication of the revised guidance in September, and there will be six presentations from some of the best examples of using insight from winners and runners-up at this year’s Patient Experience Network awards. Find out more and register here for Birmingham, London, Peterborough, or Leeds
Sustainability and transformation partnerships
NCVO has been following the progress of sustainability and transformation partnership areas that are building strategic partnerships with the voluntary sector. This blog outlines key learning from nine sustainability and transformation partnership sites. It includes some interesting (and not too surprising) insight into the key ingredients of success in these partnerships. NCVO will be presenting and discussing this in detail in a free one-day workshop in London on 12th September. Read the blog here
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This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary organisations involved in the health and care of people in the criminal justice system. It currently has 3,279 subscribers.
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