The Welsh Assembly Government recognises that the voluntary sector is a key partner in delivering its health, social care and well being agenda, and in October 2002 published Building Strong Bridges, an initiative to strengthen partnership working between the sector and the NHS, both nationally and locally.
Although concentrating on the relationship between the voluntary sector and the NHS, the document also made connections with the ‘wider determinants of health' in which the sector is also actively engaged, including Social Services, Housing, Lifelong Learning, Employment, Environment and Leisure.
On of the key recommendations in Building Strong Bridges was the appointment by the County Voluntary Councils in Wales (VCVS in the Vale) of a local Health and Social Care Facilitator, whose role was to:
-Support and promote joint working between voluntary organisations and health and social care providers
-Support voluntary sector and carer members on the Local Health Board
-Develop and support local Health and Social Care Networks
-Directly participate in joint planning groups and represent the voluntary sector
-Promote the role and contribution of the voluntary sector to other health and social care agencies
-Provide information and training to local voluntary organisations around health and social care issues e.g. briefings and seminars; local newsletters; facilitate access to training
-Facilitate participation and consultation in policy development locally and nationally
Assist voluntary organisations to access development support
From April 2006, Phase 2 of the initiative required the local CVC, in negotiation with the Local Health Board, to produce a Local Action Plan that addresses a number of key priorities, and acts as a work programme for the Facilitator. The priority areas include: Commissioning; Long Term Conditions Management; Engaging Disadvantaged Groups; Research, Development and Training; Strategic HSC&WB Agenda (including partnership working and the development of the local HSC&WB Strategy); Public Health and Well Being; Patient and Public Involvement; and Volunteering for Health, all of which are linked to the Assembly's publications Designed for Life and Fulfilled Lives: Supported Communities and the need to work together in developing community based health and social care services.
In addition to liasing with key personnel in the LHB, NHS Trusts and LA, the Facilitator also works with members of the local Public Health Team in promoting good health and encouraging the local population to improve their health and well being by adopting more healthy lifestyles, in accordance with the six Key Themes of Health Challenge Wales, namely: Smoking; Food and Fitness; Accidents and Injuries; Alcohol and other Substance Misuse; Infections; Mental Health and Well Being.
Health Challenge Vale has been established as a local response to Health Challenge Wales, and Health Challenge Vale has its own dedicated website.
Margaret Reid is VCVS's Health and Social Care Facilitator and can be contacted on Tel: 01446 741706; email: margaret@valecvs.org.uk
VCVS facilitates a quarterly Health, Social Care and Well Being Network that provides a collective voice for voluntary organisations and community groups who work within health, social care and well being in the Vale of Glamorgan.
We also publish a quarterly Health, Social Care and Well Being Newsletter which includes relevant national and local topical issues/updates, as well as information on local groups, training, conferences and consultations. If you are not on the current mailing list, but would like to receive a copy, or if your organisation would like to place an article in the Newsletter, please contact Margaret or Ceri (or telephone: 01446 741706).
The Vale of Glamorgan Health, Social Care and Well Being Strategy
The Local Authority (LA) and the Local Health Board (LHB) have a responsibility to jointly plan NHS and health-related local authority services, and have developed a strategy that outlines the plans for the Vale.
The aim of the Strategy is:
-To consider all aspects of the health, social care and well-being of the population of the Vale of Glamorgan.
-To improve services, and to ensure better planning and investment of resources by organisations serving the population.
-To refocus on preventative and early intervention services.
-To improve joint working.
The Vale of Glamorgan Health, Social Care and Well Being Strategy 2008 - 2011 "Living Better, Living Longer" outlining plans to improve health and social care services for people in the Vale of Glamorgan, can be downloaded from the Local Health Board and Local Authority's websites. The document is also available in hard copy or on CD Rom, and can be obtained on request by contacting the Local Health Board on telephone 029 2035 0600 or the Vale of Glamorgan Council on telephone 01446 704814.
Delivering Integrated Services (DIS) - Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust area
The DIS Project is led by a multi agency Board with stakeholders from statutory and voluntary services covering Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and the Western Vale of Glamorgan. The Project was initiated in June 2006 with a focus on adults, with specific reference to the elderly and those people with long term conditions. As with the PHSI programme, the DIS programme represents a collaborative approach to redesign local care, with a particular emphasis on shifting services from secondary care to a more appropriate and community-based environment.
All About Health Market Stall
Health Challenge Vale has a Market Stall in Barry Street Market, Holton Road every Tuesday. The stall is available, free of charge, to all statutory and voluntary organisations with a health focus. For further information, including bookings, please Telephone: 01446 704851 or email: marketstall@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
OTHER LINKS:
Cardiff & Vale University Health Board
Cardiff and the Vale NHS Trust
Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council
All Wales Wellbeing NGO Network
All Wales Child Protection Procedures