New letter makes the case for VCFSE sector as NHS local health and care functions are reviewed

Representatives from the 42 voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) Alliances operating across England are working together to make the case for the sector in local health and care. Ahead of formally launching later this year, the interim Alliance42 steering group, which VSNW Chief Executive sits on for the North West, has written to the new Chair of NHS England, Dr Penny Dash, and members of the national working group reviewing the functions of local Integrated Care Systems and Boards (ICBs). The review comes following the announcement last month of the abolition of NHS England and significant cuts to local ICBs.

The Alliance42 steering group consists of agreed representatives from each NHS region, nominated by 42 VCFSE Alliances in England – partnerships of VCFSE organisations with the aim of strengthening the sector's voice, influence, and involvement by leveraging their strengths. They have written the letter ahead of Government publishing a new operating model for ICBs next month, asking that the convening power of VCFSE Alliances are fundamental to underpinning ICBs.

The letter calls for the revised ICB operating model to ensure the VCFSE sector is included as a full partner in shaping strategy, governance and in the delivery of that strategy, with ICBs continuing as a systems convenor. This means bringing together cross-sector partners and organisations.

Highlighted in the letter is the substantial contribution of local VCFSE groups and networks to healthy neighbourhoods, as well as the sector’s offer around supporting the work of the NHS, helping to tackle and prevent health inequality. It is vital that the sector is seen as a fundamental building block of medium- and long-term improvement to ensure people are best supported. Moreover, investment in the VCFSE sector presents a clear opportunity for strategic commissioning for the creation of social value.

Our sector’s passion, innovation and values-driven approaches need to be better embraced if we are going to create an effective, integrated, collective culture for improving health and care in all our communities.

Warren Escadale, VSNW Chief Executive, said:

“We understand our submission has been positively received. However, the proof will be in the updated functions of an ICB which are due out in the next few weeks. We hope that Alliance42, connecting to VCFSE groups in every local health system, can be a powerful voice for our sector’s role in health and care nationally. The aim is that the sector is recognised and invested in as a must-have full partner. It won’t be easy and this is just the first step.”

Read the full letter here.

Integrated Care Board cuts: A message of support for our NHS colleagues

Last week, the Prime Minister announced that NHS England, the administrative body responsible for delivering health services, setting out funding and agreeing priorities for the NHS across the country, will be abolished.  

Alongside this, and perhaps most relevant to our VCFSE organisations and NHS partners across the North West, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have been ordered to cut their running costs by 50 per cent in the next six months with provider trusts also told to cut their corporate service budgets back to pre-pandemic levels. 

Citing a need to “liberate” NHS staff and leaders from over regulation and bureaucracy, these changes will see the NHS “taken back into direct government control” within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Keir Starmer, in his speech in East Yorkshire, was critical of the systematic duplication that has evolved since the establishment of NHS England, with the Government expecting around 50 per cent of jobs at both NHS England and DHSC to be cut in an attempt to streamline health and care planning and provision and redeploy savings to frontline services. 

The Government are wasting no time with this latest announcement, with work beginning immediately to transfer functions to DHSC with an aim for the transition to be complete within a 2-year timeline. There is uncertainty around what this news means in terms of the recent publication of various policy announcements regarding NHS priorities and for the long awaited NHS 10 year plan. It is also unclear at this stage what 50 per cent cuts to ICB running costs will look like, particularly as many ICBs are already in financial deficit, with some concerns raised that reforming ways of working could impact on place-based teams and frontline services.  

We understand that this is an extremely concerning and demoralising time for many health and care staff across the country, and here at VSNW we want to offer our solidarity and support to our NHS colleagues and partners across the North West. 

It is easy to see these figures as that, just figures, but behind these numbers and percentages are hardworking and passionate people who are dedicated to delivering high quality care to our communities in the face of increasingly difficult circumstances. Communities in which their families, friends, colleagues and they themselves live and receive health care. 

Whilst we wait to see the impact of these proposed cuts locally, and indeed on the VCFSE sector, we will continue to support our health and care partners across the North West to navigate this challenge to continue to provide high-quality services for our communities.  

At VSNW we are committed to supporting improved, integrated, prevention-driven community and neighbourhood delivery concurrently with the three NHS shifts (hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention).  

For further information on this announcement, NHS Confederation have produced a briefing which can be found here: https://www.nhsconfed.org/publications/abolishing-nhs-england-what-you-need-know  

Help shape the future of health data research

The North West Research Secure Data Environment (SDE) Public Advisory and Accountability Group (PAAG) is seeking members of the public to provide input on the development of a secure digital system for health and public data research.

As part of NHS England’s digital strategy, this initiative aims to bring together currently separate data sources—spanning health, care, environment, and travel—into a secure, pseudonymised digital environment. Researchers will be able to apply to access de-identified data to support studies that could improve healthcare, public services, and policy making.

To ensure transparency and public trust, it is essential that local people are involved in shaping this system. The PAAG will play a key role in advising on the design, expectations, and safeguards around the use of health and social data for research.

Who can get involved?

The group is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, and no prior experience in health data, research, or advisory roles is required. The aim is to gather diverse perspectives to ensure the system meets public expectations and operates responsibly.

What to expect

• Monthly online meetings (2 hours)

• £50 payment per session

• Opportunities to contribute to an important national initiative

This work is being led by teams from the Lancashire and South Cumbria, Cheshire and Merseyside, and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Systems.

For those interested in contributing to this critical development in secure health data research, this is an opportunity to have a direct impact on how data is used for public benefit.

To register, visit North West Secure Data Environment [forms.office.com] or contact Nichola.Verstraelen@lthtr.nhs.uk for more information.

From This to That: Changes in the NHS

Confused about the upcoming NHS reconfiguration? Too many acornyms?

VSNW have produced a resource to help extrapolate key information relevant to the sector in light of the upcoming changes as outlined in the Whitepaper.

Click on the image below.

Carers in the NHS workforce

VSNW is jointly hosting an event with Health & Care Partnership for Cheshire & Merseyside exploring Carers in the NHS Workforce. This event, which will be of interest to HR teams, Directors / Deputy Directors of nursing, carer support organisations and those with a responsibility for staff health and well-being and staff side colleagues, will take place on Tuesday 24th September at The Foundary, Widnes.

On the agenda will be several case studies from Carers and employers, whilst VSNW CEO, Warren Escadale, will present the findings of research carried out in Cheshire & Merseyside looking at the Informal Carer Workforce. This piece of work was undertaken in partnership with Leeds Beckett University Centre for Health Promotion Research and Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES).

For more information, including the full agenda, and to book your place, please visit here.

The Long-Term Plan for the NHS

Theresa May outlined a funding settlement for the English NHS in June of this year: "increased funding of £20.5 billion per year by the end of five years." 

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the NHS is therefore reviewing sector involvement and investment models across the board, which includes: Prevention, Personal Responsibility and Health Inequalities; Healthy Childhood and Maternal Health; Integrated and Personalised Care for People with Long-Term Conditions and Older People with Frailty (including Dementia); Cancer; Cardiovascular and Respiratory; Learning Disability and Autism; Mental Health; Workforce, Training and Leadership; Digital and Technology; Primary Care; Research and Innovation; Clinical Review of Standards; System Architecture; and Engagement.

How Can the VCSE Sector Get Involved?

VSNW are co-hosting one of four regional workshops (1.30-4pm, September 12, Manchester) with NHS England (via the VCSE and participation teams) and NCVO, as part of a rapid national engagement exercise, in order to develop VCSE proposals and core messages that feed into the Autumn Budget statement. We are particularly keen to draw out lessons and messages drawn from local reality.

This is an important moment. To book: North West event in Manchester on September 12.