Speak up - get vocal - be visible

It’s been a while since I have shared some of my thoughts with you all on what I think are big opportunities for us… sorry for that… though some of you may be quite happy with the absence of my ramblings ??

Over the past year LVET has spent a lot of time raising the profile of our members and being more visible so that we get invited to be present at key meetings and then being more vocal when we do get invited in. We will never claim to be the voice of the VCFSE sector but we are a voice speaking for our members. Feedback from one meeting where I was present was that we provided a passionate and much needed reality check in a room full of health professionals.

My reflection on this increased visibility (alongside other influencing factors) is that our colleagues across the system increasingly recognise that without VCFSE organisations like you there is no viable future for health, social care and wellbeing services. Increasingly they recognise our value and want to work more closely with us – health is not just the responsibility of the NHS, education is not just the business of schools and we are all responsible for creating the communities and places we live and work in. Increasingly colleagues want to know what we think of proposals or of potential developments at pre-proposal stage. This is a great step forward and means that LVET members can help to shape the development and design of a great many things.

Below are just three, relatively pressing, opportunities for you to have your say, through LVET. Please do get in touch with your thoughts and ideas – not only on the things we are being asked to contribute our thinking to but also on those that we are not yet being asked to contribute to – we don’t always need to wait to be asked!

Digital Inclusion

·?????? There is a lot of interest in digital inclusion and digital health and we have been invited to be part of these conversations. If there is to be a true Individualised Care Record what do you need as organisations to be in place? What infrastructure is necessary? What equipment and technical support? If we are being asked to add to shared records -How? Who? What? Can signposting and referral be automated? If so what would need to be in place? What needs to be in place for people to feel secure that their data is protected? How can we make better use of the data we hold or how can we access data the wider Health and Social Care system holds to improve what we do or to fill gaps? I am going to a meeting about this on Monday 13th – if you have any thoughts do share

Economy and the impact of the VCFSE

·?????? I have had an interesting conversation with James Baty (GLLEP) around weaving the VCFSE sector into the new Economic Strategy – value is recognised beyond Gross Value Added and he wants to present a wider view of ‘growth’. He is seeking examples from our members to include as case studies to show how VCFSE contribute to the economy – not just through job creation, but also through volunteering and also through helping people get back to or stay in work when they are experiencing difficult life circumstances.

Health and funding

·?????? Those of you present at the LVET conference may have heard John Turner strongly indicate that if the processes of the ICB get in the way then we need to suggest ways that things can be done differently. LVET will be putting together a paper outlining an approach to a ‘shared fund’ that sits outside of the tight ICB financial controls and can be used to prime new interventions/ share financial risk when ICB payment processes get in the way. How do you want this to work? What safeguards need to be in place? How can this support the development and delivery of diverse, local, community led activity and support?

I look forward to hearing from those of you who want to share your ideas and thoughts so that LVET can bring your voice to those who need to hear it.