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In this month's edition...
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Campaigning for people with a learning disability
Mencap have launched their 'Hear My Voice' campaign, aiming to give people with a learning disability and their families the chance to influence their political candidates before the 2015 general election. The campaign's website allows you to search for your local candidate and send them your story, telling them what matters to you and the issues you are facing. Spread the word about the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #HearMyVoice, and find out more here
Improving the life expectancy of people with a mental illness
Rethink's '+20' campaign aims to raise awareness and campaign for improvements in physical health care for people with mental illnesses. Their +20 report states that people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses have a life expectancy 20 years less than the general population, mainly due to preventable physical conditions. According to the report people with schizophrenia, compared to the general population, are 3 times more likely to die from coronary heart disease, twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and 10 times more likely to die from respiratory diseases. The report includes stories of people affected by the condition, the work Rethink is doing, and recommendations for policy makers. Find out more and download the report here
Shaping health service commissioning
Do you or someone you care for have experience of using the justice system? If so come and help the NHS shape how health services are commissioned and delivered across London’s justice system. In exchange for your participation, NHS England London Regional Team will: train and support you to take part; offer on-going supervision to help manage this work; and pay travel and out of pocket expenses. For more information or to take part email v.giovanni@inspirit-training.org.uk
Update on the Care Act 2014
The Department for Health have published their statutory guidance to support implementation of the Care Act 2014 by local authorities, along with their response to the consultation on the draft guidance. The Act places responsibility for the care and support needs of those in prison to local authorities, and chapter 17 of the guidance document covers its implementation in prisons, approved premises and bail accommodation. Download the statutory guidance here, and the response to the consultation on the draft guidance here
Planning for the future of health and care
NHS England and Public Health England have published their priorities for future years. The 'NHS Five year forward view' sets out their vision for the future of the NHS, with an emphasis on prevention and supporting public health initiatives, and recognition of the need for building strong partnerships with voluntary organisations. Public Health England's (PHE) 'From evidence into action' priority document sets out 7 key priorities for the next 5 years, including tackling obesity, reducing smoking and harmful drinking, and reducing tuberculosis. Download the NHS Five year forward view here, and PHE's From evidence into action here
Influencing the direction of public health research
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has vacancies on their health research programme's Public Advisory Board (PAB), and is welcoming applications from senior public health decision makers, particularly those from the voluntary sector. The role of the PAB is to provide high level strategic advice on the nature of public health research needed. Membership offers the opportunity to contribute to and influence the future direction of public health research. The deadline for applications is 17th November 2014. Find out more and apply here
Space for rent at York hospitals
Brian Golding, Director of Facilities and Estates at York teaching hospital is offering voluntary sector organisations the opportunity to make use of unused space at NHS property in Selby, York, Ryedale, Scarborough and part of Hambleton Districts. There is space in many of their buildings which they are in a position to let out, and bringing voluntary sector organisations on-site, close to NHS colleagues, might make for some synergies. If you are interested, please email jon.carling@nyyforum.org.uk
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Liaison and diversion and the voluntary sector
'Liaison and Diversion: Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector' is an Offender Health Collaborative event [10th November, London, | 24th November, Leeds | free]. For many offenders who have a mental health issue or vulnerability, prison can make their situation worse. Nearly half of all prisoners have anxiety or depression, and nearly a third of all 13-18 year olds who offend have a mental health issue. Liaison and diversion (L&D) services exist to identify offenders who have mental health, learning disability or substance misuse vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the Criminal Justice System. L&D services aim to improve health outcomes, reduce re-offending and identify vulnerabilities earlier, thus reducing the likelihood that offenders will reach crisis-point. Book your place on the London event here and the Leeds event here
The role of faith in the health sector
'Faith Too Significant to Ignore' is a Faith Action conference [19th November, London, £70] that aims to bring together a range of speakers from central government giving their views on the significance of faith. There will also be a selection of seminars that aim to equip you for a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape. Topics will include: taking faith into the public square – overcoming barriers to affect your local community; faith is good for your health – we’ll show you how; the best ways to make commissioning work for you; how to build community, belonging and identity – an introduction to Creative English; and building for the long term – 5 ways to make your organisation more sustainable. Find out more and book here
Health commissioning in the South West
'Challenge and Change - Working together to support health and care in the South West' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning seminar [3rd November, Bristol, free] featuring David Relph, Director, Bristol Health Partners and Head of Strategy at University Hospitals Bristol. David's role involves promoting collaboration between major NHS providers and commissioning groups, local universities and local authorities in order to deliver significant health gains and improvements in service delivery in and around Bristol. He will be sharing his thoughts regarding some of the challenges faced in the health and care system, how well we are doing in tackling them at the moment, and what the next few decades might bring in terms of change. Find out more and book here
Why bother with offender health?
'Offender Health - Why Bother?' is a Newcastle University seminar [12th November, Newcastle, free] that will look at rhetorical and practical policies to illustrate the justification for an increasingly significant programme of national health service provision. Drawing on case studies that illustrate health and wellbeing conditions suffered by offenders, the presentation will elaborate three sets of rhetorical policy contests about: offender rights; the security of communities in which offenders live; and reducing re-offending. It will then examine three areas of service development and draw out patterns of policy as practice. Find out more and book here
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Innovative ideas to improve health
NHS England is inviting applicants to its Innovation Challenge Prizes, a series of funding opportunities designed to encourage, recognise and reward front line innovation and drive spread and adoption of these innovations across the NHS. A total of £650,000 is available, with challenges covering diabetes; infection control; use of technology; rehabilitation; digital patient and client engagement; and an 'Acorn' challenge for small ideas that have the potential to make a big difference to patients. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a 30 minute 'Dragon’s Den' type session where they will present their innovation. The deadline for applications is 7th November. Find out more and apply here
Mental health services in Surrey
NHS England's Kent and Medway Area Team is inviting tenders for a mental health service in Surrey prisons, with a contract value of £4,500,000, and voluntary sector organisations are welcome to apply. Providers will improve access to and the quality of health services for offenders whilst in custody at HMP High Down, HMP Downview, HMP Coldingley and HMP Send. Bids are sought to provide evidence based interventions and treatments that promote and maintain good mental health and well-being, and to provide access to expertise in: learning disability, personality disorder and dual diagnosis. The deadline for submission of Invitation to Tender documentation is 21st November. Find out more and apply here
Supporting volunteers in end of life care
The Cabinet Office and Hospice UK have launched the Social Action End of Life Support Fund to support existing projects that engage volunteers to enable continued social interaction and to improve the experience for people at end of life and their families. Projects must build on existing ways that volunteers improve the experience of people at end of life and their families by: reducing isolation; meeting emotional needs; and maintaining connections with networks in the local community. The programme is open to applications from charitable and NHS hospices, hospitals, care homes, charities registered in the UK, public bodies, social enterprises and community enterprises. Grants are expected to be £50,000 or more and funding will be provided until December 2015. The deadline for applications is 7th November. Find out more and apply here
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Housing's offer to health
'Prescription for Success' is a National Housing Federation guide that aims to help housing associations improve their offer to the health sector, and build a business case to commissioners. The guide explains how the health economy works, and what commissioners are looking for, including the kind of evidence they expect to see from prospective providers. It also includes case studies of initiatives that have successfully attracted investment. Download the guide here
Inspecting substance misuse services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its plans for inspecting substance misuse services. The CQC will be responsible for inspecting hospital inpatient-based services, community-based services, and residential rehabilitation services. Inspections will be carried out by teams that will include doctors, psychologists, pharmacist and therapists, and also people with personal experience of using services. The plans detail how they are developing the new regulatory approach, and the proposed timescales. Find out more here
Mental health waiting times
'Mental health services: achieving better access by 2020' is a Department of Health policy paper that sets out national waiting time standards for mental health services from April 2015 and plans to provide better access to mental health services over the next 5 years. The new waiting time standards for treatment of common mental health problems like depression and anxiety will be: 75% of people referred for talking therapies will start their treatment within 6 weeks and 95% will start within 18 weeks; and at least 50% of people going through their first episode of psychosis will get help within 2 weeks of being referred. Download the paper here
Commissioning NHS services
NHS England have published their commissioning intentions for prescribed specialised services in 2015/16. The intentions provide notice to healthcare providers about changes and planned developments in commissioning and delivery of prescribed specialised services by NHS England. Their prime purpose is to enable providers: to make early preparations; to engage with clinical service leads and commissioners; and to realise change that benefits patients. The document includes their intentions relating to mental health and offender personality disorder. Download the document here
Peer interventions to improve health in prisons
The NHS National Institute for Health Research has published 'A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions to maintain and improve offender health in prison settings'. The findings have come from a systematic review in which results were gathered from studies across the world to find out whether or not peer interventions work to improve and maintain health in prisons and young offender institutions. This review aims to be a comprehensive and unbiased summary of whether or not peer interventions work in prison and whether or not they are cost-effective. Download the review here
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Links to health care data
NHS England has launched the 'MyNHS' website which aims to make their data transparent in order to improve quality and create better services. The site will link to existing data that has already been published on patient safety; efficiency; quality; public health; social care commissioning; and hospital food standards. Clinicians, managers, patient groups and campaigners can use the data to highlight the best performing areas, monitor performance, and shape services. The website has recently been updated to include ratings for mental health hospitals. It will be developed and improved over time, and you can suggest improvements by clicking on the feedback button. Click here to view the website
Reducing health inequalities
Public Health England has published an evidence review written by the UCL Institute of Health Equity, showing evidence for interventions on social issues that lead to poor health, including ways to deal with health inequalities. The set of evidence papers summarise the links between several key areas of health, and set out what local areas can do, with examples of local interventions that have been used to improve health. Download the evidence papers here
Working with Health and Wellbeing Boards
Regional Voices has produced a series of short publications to support voluntary sector representatives on Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs), Healthwatch representatives on HWBs and the wider voluntary sector interested in engaging with HWBs. The resources include support on: voting rights; conflict of interest; working with councillors; influencing the agenda; funding engagement; influencing your HWB; and Healthwatch working with the voluntary sector. Download the resources here
Support for Joint Strategic Needs Assessments
Public Health England has published a support pack for Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) to help local areas develop JSNAs and local Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies (JHWs) that address public health issues relating to alcohol, drug and tobacco use. The pack covers: alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery for adults; drug prevention, treatment and recovery for adults; tobacco control; and young people’s substance misuse prevention and treatment. For each topic there are a series of good practice evidence-based prompts, and data for each local area to help commission effective prevention, treatment and recovery services and interventions. Find out more, and download the support packs, here
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Person centred care for offenders
Kate Aldous, Head of Strategic Development at Clinks, has written a blog about Sahir House, and how their person-centred approach helped one of their HIV positive service users move from prison into the community and towards independent living. Kate explains: "The voluntary sector often describes one of its strengths as being 'person-centred'. So what does this look like in terms of actual services, and how does it complement statutory services?" Read Kate's blog here
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About Clinks Offender Health Bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary sector organisations involved in the health and care of offenders. It currently has 2547 subscribers.
To submit content, please email ben.watson@clinks.org
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Designed, composed and circulated by Ben Watson, Clinks.