The public sector by another name?

Third Sector, 8 August 2007

John Plummer reports from Hull, where a new type of not-for-profit organisation created by the public sector has traditional charities worried.

Andrew Burnell is that rare creature: a likeable senior manager in the health service. Even people in the voluntary sector warm to him. But, professionally, they fear that he and other NHS managers in the UK could be about to wreak havoc on the not-for-profit landscape.

Burnell is the director of provider services and nursing at Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust, one of 26 organisations given 'pathfinder' status by the Department of Health earlier this year. Each received funding to set up social enterprises that will "lead the way in delivering innovative community services in health and social care".

Hull Teaching PCT used its £10,000 to press ahead with plans to create a community interest company called City Health Care Partnership.

Go to www.thirdsector.co.uk for the full article. You have to join but it is free (and quick!)

Funding & Commissioning for Health: The Social Enterprise Investment Fund

The Social Enterprise Investment Fund

From April 2007, the Department is holding a Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) of £73 million over a four year period. Of this £73 million, there will be £1.2 million revenue and £8.9 million capital money in the financial year 2007 to 2008. Both social enterprise pathfinders and other social enterprises*, delivering health and social care services, will be able to apply to the SEIF in the financial year 2007 to 2008.

The SEIF 2007 to 2008 will be managed by an in-house, specialist team led by the DH-owned company Partnerships for Health. Together, we will review the need to develop the Fund further, responding to social enterprises’ needs and the experience gained from social enterprise pathfinders in 2006/07.

About SEIF

What are the objectives of the Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF)?

• To stimulate and encourage the development of a vibrant social enterprise sector in the delivery of health and social care services.
  
• To provide start-up funding and longer term investment to emerging and existing social enterprises* in the health and social care sector with a view to their sustainability.

Which organisations will SEIF support?

• SEIF will support organisations which are, or are aiming to become, social enterprises delivering one or more health and/or social care services.
  

How might SEIF invest in your organisation?

• SEIF can offer loans, grants and equity capital or a mixture of these, depending on your organisational needs and structure.
• All potential investments will be subject to a thorough appraisal process which will help us to understand your needs and provide the form of finance best suited to them.
• As SEIF develops, it will aim to enable support for organisational capacity building.

When can our organisation apply for finance from SEIF?

• The fund is now open for your proposals for financial investment.
• The closing date for the current round of proposals is 31st October 2007.
• The next call for proposals will be announced later this year.
  

Who can apply

• Multi-agency partnerships, particularly voluntary and community groups wishing to use their expertise to provide services across health and social care.
• Existing social enterprises looking to expand into health and social care.
• Groups of professionals (eg nurses, therapists), seeking to form a social enterprise to deliver their services.

All the social enterprises we support would be expected to have “not-for-profit” status, in that surpluses will be reinvested in the pursuit of their social aims.

See http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/Commissioning/Socialenterprise/DH_073426 for details of how to apply.

Getting ready for LINks

Getting ready for LINks

Planning your Local Involvement Network

A Stronger Local Voice

New ways for people who use health and social care services to have a say in how they are planned and run. This includes new Local Involvement Networks – or LINks.

Key facts about LINks

• LINks will replace Patient Forums.
• The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will close.
• There will be a LINk in every Local Authority area.

• LINks will be a network of people and organisations or groups.
• They will be able to represent the views and ideas of lots of different people.

• They will not take over from groups that work at the moment.
• They should be able to make it easier for groups to have their say about local services.

How will LINks be set up?

• Each local authority will get a grant from the Department of Health.
• Each local authority will use the money to pay a host organisation.
• The host will be responsible for setting up the LINk and giving practical support to keep it going. The host will be accountable to the LINk.

• The LINk will be independent from the local authority. Each LINk will decide how they want to get the work done

The Wider LINk Membership

• Local & Community of Interest
• Active LINk Membership
• Steering Group
• Specialist Sub Group
• Specialist Task Groups

Bradford

§ Bradford HealthNet

§ Cnet

§ Forums

§ Neighbourhoods & Interest

§ Community of Interest Working Group

§ ISO Group & Bison

Procurement Process

§ Bradford MDC will follow “long route”

§ Prior Information Notice Publish week ending 18th August

§ Pre Qualification Questionaire available from end of August

§ Info Meetings in September

§ Shortlisting for “host” October

§ Appointment of “host” early new year

Early Adopter Sites

§ 7 EAPs by Commission for Patient & Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH)

§ 2 EAPs by Healthcare Commission (Leeds/Bradford & South West)

§ BACC has been involved in this work since October 2006 with Healthcare Commission

LINk Jargon

§ LINk member is a person or group that makes a commitment to take part on a regular basis.

§ An individual LINk member can be an “expert by experience”

§ LINk participant is a person or group or organisation that wants to influence the bigger picture through the roles of the LINk even though they may not be in a position to participate on a regular basis.

More Jargon

§ LINk host is organisation contracted to provide support to the LINk

§ Host is accountable to LINk:

1. Members & Participants
2. Bradford MDC
3. Wider Community of Bradford
4. Secretary of State for Health

For more info…
See below for notice of the LINks event

Local Involvement Networks (LINks)- Event - Early Notice

Local Involvement Networks (LINks)

Early Notice for diaries with more detail soon.

As part of the development of community understandings on how LINks will work from April 2008 in Bradford, BACC in collaboration with Artworks will hold a “simulation of LINks event” on:

Monday 22^nd October 2007
@ Carlisle Business Centre
Carlisle Road
Bradford BD8 8BD

The event will run from 10.30 to 4pm.

The event will be for individuals & community organisations from Airedale & Bradford communities to learn more of how this new form of public involvement in health might operate.

The event will include experiential & interactive workshops and assist in the modelling of an Airedale/Bradford version of LINks.

The event will have support & participation from Bradford tPCT & Bradford Met District Council.

We will post further details once they are available. Contact BACC (t:01274 481590)

Invitation to bid for SHIP

Invitation to bid for SHIP (Strategic Health Improvement Partnership) uncommitted resources

There has been an underspend from the Strategic Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), which has been allocated to 4 areas to provide a one off funding.These areas are

1. Reducing infant mortality
2. Reducing alcohol abuse
3. Improving sexual health and reducing teenage conceptions
4. Improving mental health

There is £30,500 to be spent on Mental Health projects. It is noted that the funding is for one year only. The money can be spent on either a single project /scheme or a number which meet the priorities set out in the mental health section of the Sustainable Communities Strategy. These are:

1. There will be improved partnership working to promote good mental health and well being (for example through measures to reduce social isolation and address drugs and alcohol use)

2. There will be improved access to emotional health and support for all and in particular for young men and other vulnerable groups.

3. There will be improved access to support to enable people with mental health problems to get involved in or stay in education, employment, and social and cultural activities.

Submissions need to be made by 9am on Thursday 30^th August. We are hoping that schemes will be informed of the decision by the end of September.

if you have any queries or need any assistance with the process please don’t hesitate to contact me on 01274 237681

or email wil.lilburn-quick@bradford.nhs.uk

Yours sincerely

Wil Lilburn-Quick

Planning Manager – Adult Mental Health