New resources explore how the VCFSE sector can help shape neighbourhood health

How can health and care systems work more effectively with VCFSE organisations?

New resources from NAVCA and The Partner Ship, developed with ALLiance42, explore the role of the VCFSE sector in making neighbourhood health work for local communities. The VCSE Handbook for Neighbourhood Health brings together practical learning and examples to help systems strengthen partnership working, involve communities in decision-making and recognise the contribution of local organisations.

As neighbourhood health develops, the resources highlight the importance of building on the relationships, knowledge and trust that already exist within communities. This means involving the VCFSE sector in shaping plans and decisions, as well as recognising its role in supporting people and connecting them with help in their local area.

Putting neighbourhood health into practice across the North West

There is already valuable work across the North West that reflects these principles.

In Cheshire and Merseyside, VSNW’s assurance framework aims to strengthen the involvement of VCFSE organisations in neighbourhood health governance, planning and decision-making. It provides a framework for considering how the sector is represented and how its expertise can influence the development and delivery of neighbourhood health.

In Greater Manchester, the VCFSE Accord provides an established basis for the sector to work alongside the NHS, local government and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to shape policy, commissioning and investment. Evaluation of the Accord has highlighted how VCFSE involvement in decision-making can help ensure prevention, community engagement and local needs inform service planning.

The handbook also features Warrington and Halton’s Healthy & Home model, which embeds VCFSE professionals in hospital discharge teams. By connecting people with practical and specialist community support, the model demonstrates how stronger links between health services and local organisations can benefit people and support more effective use of resources.

In St Helens, four Care Communities have helped lay the foundations for Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, bringing together primary care, community health, mental health, social care and VCFSE partners around local populations.

These examples demonstrate that neighbourhood health is about more than reorganising services. It requires meaningful community involvement, trusted relationships across sectors and investment in the infrastructure that enables organisations to work together.