News

Have Your Say - Consultation on Health Reforms
11 September 2012

The Department of Health is carrying out two important consultations which will have a major impact on the voluntary sector. LVSC is coordinating the reponse of the voluntary sector across Greater London. Get in touch and have your say.

The two consultations documents are:

• Caring for Our Future

  This White Paper proposes changes to the law about adult care and support

• Proposals about the Duties of Health and Wellbeing Boards

  Health and Wellbeing boards are part of the new NHS structures. They bring together councillors, council officials, members of Clinical Commissioning Groups (the GP-led bodies which now commission services) and representatives of the local Healthwatch (the body which in each area will take over from the LINk). The proposals set guidelines for how these bodies will work together to plan health and care services.

There is also an event you can attend to hear about the plans and express your views - see below.

Caring for Our Future

The White Paper itself is available, as is a briefingfrom the voluntary sector group Regional Voices. A positive aspect of the White Paper is that it recognises the ability of voluntary groups to reach some socially excluded people. The briefing suggests that voluntary groups lobby policy makers to ensure that funding for this work is available.

LVSC will be collating comments on the White Paper from the voluntary sector across London. Let them have feedback from your organisation and service users by contacting by 12 October.

Duties of Health and Wellbeing Boards

The Department of Health has published proposals which provide a framework for NHS and local government to work together on joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) and joint health and wellbeing strategies (JHWS).

You can respond online directly to the government, or you can respond via LVSC -contact by 21 September.

Learning Event on Social Care Reforms

10am-4pm, Tuesday 11 September 2012
Central London

This event will be delivered in Partnership with the Strategic Policy and Funding Team and the Department of Health Voluntary Sector Strategic Partners.

It is FREE and will give voluntary and community organisations opportunities to get a better understanding of the proposed social care reforms and their implications, to begin to frame some collective responses, and to support engagement with the consultation on the draft Bill.

Places are limited and the Department of Health reserves the right to limit the number of places per organisation if the event becomes oversubscribed.

A programme for the day will be sent to delegates in advance of the event.

A booking form is available on the Department of Health website.