Health and social care is a priority area for many of NAVCA's
members, either because they support local voluntary and community
organisations working in this field, or directly deliver health and
social care related services themselves. NAVCA members also work
with local health and social care bodies such as Primary Care
Trusts and local authorities to ensure that services meet the needs
of local communities.
NAVCA supports its members in this field by:
- Providing information and briefings on health and social care
issues through Circulation and LINX
- Representing the network on Department of Health forums that
address the relationship between the NHS and the voluntary and
community sector. We are currently a member of the Third Sector and
Social Enteprise Programme Delivery Board (which oversees all of
the Department's work in relation to our sector) and the Funding
Review Programme Delivery Board (which is overseeing a strategic
review of the Department's funding to our sector, including Section
64 and Opportunities for Volunteering). We also have ongoing direct
contact with officials at the Department and in other
organisations, such as the NHS National Centre for
Involvement.
- Facilitating HealthNet, a
free email list where members can share information, ideas and good
practice.
For more information, contact
Bill Freeman, Director
of Development
LINks
Starting in April 2008, the 150 LINks will differ from the
Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Forums they replace in a
number of respects - they will cover social services as well as
health, they will be established for a geographical area rather
than a specific hospital or trust, and there will be more local
control over their membership and how others are involved.
For more information see
Circulation article on LINks.