From April 2013 local Healthwatch replaced the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) as the "consumer voice" in health and social care. It is important that local Healthwatch learns from the experience of the LINks to ensure they become the best they can be, and to prevent "reinventing the wheel". The results of a project to capture this learning are now available
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
15 October 2012
Further details about the appointment are available on the Cabinet Office website.
The appointment has been welcomed by Skills - Third Sector, the registered charity supporting the development of a workforce that is ambitious, skilled and adaptable in achieving the objectives of third sector organisations and the communities they serve.
“Dame Mary’s appointment is the most significant recognition by Government of the central importance of developing skills in our sector in recent times,” says Keith Mogford, Chief Executive of Skills – Third Sector. “We understand that her new role is intended to work with the sector to identify challenges and best practice, then supporting the sector to respond by catalysing the implementation of solutions and replication of best practice. We hope this will enable our sector to improve our approaches to attraction, retention and development of high quality skills and leadership – this is essential to the sector being able to tackle the challenges of a changing environment head-on.”
Dame Mary Marsh and Nick Hurd will speak together at Skills – Third Sector’s Our People Our Skills Our Future skills and people development conference in central London on 20 November 2012 - http://www.skills-thirdsector.org.uk/news_media/conference/.
Regional Voices, of which VSNW is a partner, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded funding from the Department of Health (Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund) to support voluntary and community sector influence on health and wellbeing boards
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills has published the findings of a research study on European Social Fund delivery with the aim of informing thinking around the next round of programmes
Healthwatch England was formed in April 2013 and is the independent consumer champion for health and social care in England. They have now published a list of local Healthwatch, including those for the North West
The Local Government Chronicle held a webinar to explore the essential elements to ensure local healthwatch organisations are effective in scrutinising local health services and provide a voice for communities. Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a part, are mentioned.
An analysis has been published by NAVCA of the 74 areas that received Transforming Local Infrastructure and provides a national perspective, and allows the sharing of information and ideas
