December 2015 North East Regional Networks The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. They monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. The CQC publishes its findings, including performance ratings, to help people choose care. The way that health and social care services are regulated is changing and the CQC have signaled their commitment to listen better to the views and experiences of people who use services. As part of this work, VONNE has provided this mapping document, providing information on voluntary and community sector health and care networks that operate in the North East. A full list of contact details can be found in the accompanying Excel spreadsheet. Introduction Across the North East community and voluntary groups come together to discuss issues that are affecting them, their members and service users and to share information, experience and good practice, all with the aim of improving health, care and wellbeing. Some of these networks involve community or voluntary groups active in the local area, other bring together patients, service users, carers and health professionals to carry out research and support service redesign. The briefing provides information on the following four types of networks: 1. Geographically based networks often supported by local Councils for Voluntary Service and Voluntary Development Agencies 2. Networks focusing on public health, condition management and diseases 3. VCS networks linked to Clinical Commissioning Groups and Foundation Trusts 4. Additional networks with specific focus on women, young people and black and minority ethnic communities This briefing does not cover the work that local Healthwatch organisations are delivering as the CQC has already established relationships with local Healthwatch organisations. 1 December 2015 Details of local Healthwatch organisations can be found on the VONNE website at http://www.vonne.org.uk/healthwatch or by visiting Healthwatch England’s website http://www.healthwatch.co.uk 1. Local area health networks Northumberland In April 2014 Northumberland County Council awarded a three-year contract to provide support services for Northumberland’s community and voluntary sector organisations to Northumberland Community Voluntary Action (Northumberland CVA), previously Wansbeck Centre for Voluntary Services (CVS). Northumberland Community Voluntary Action is working in conjunction with the North East Social Enterprise Partnership (NESEP) to deliver the contract. Although not specific to health and social care, the three areas of the contract (support to small community based organisations, promoting active citizens & volunteering, and facilitating bottom-up community activity) all have the potential to enhance health and wellbeing. Northumberland’s VCS Assembly is an inclusive, independent and influential voice for the sector, and a mechanism for better engagement and influence with local strategic partnerships and the public sector. The Assembly considers a wide range of topics, including health. Local infrastructure organisations are well positioned to support VCS engagement in health, care and wellbeing. Community and Voluntary Action Blyth Valley provides independent specialist support and information for the continued development of voluntary and community organisations in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley. Community Action Northumberland is both a Rural Community Council and a Council for Voluntary Service that works with communities in Northumberland to help them become more vibrant, confident, inclusive, effective and sustainable. Contact information Northumberland Community Voluntary Action (CVA) 107 & 109 Station Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 8RS Tel: 01670 858 688 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.northumberlandcva.org.uk/ Community and Voluntary Action Blyth Valley 22 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2DP Tel: 01670 353 623 Email: [email protected] 2 December 2015 Website: http://www.cvabv.org.uk Community Action Northumberland UNIUN Enterprise Building, Front Street, Pegswood, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 6RG Tel: 01670 517 178 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ca-north.org.uk North Tyneside Working across North Tyneside, VODA provides advice, training, information and support to volunteers, voluntary and community organisations. They work to encourage and develop networks and partnerships between the voluntary and community sector and others. There are no formal VCS health and care networks operating across North Tyneside, though health, care and wellbeing is frequently a topic discussed by the Chief Officers’ Forum. This forum brings together the Chief Officers of borough-wide voluntary and community organisations on a regular basis, so they could discuss shared issues, look at opportunities for joint working. This group elects representatives for the Health & Wellbeing Board and group members have the opportunity to feed in views and receive feedback on meetings. Contact Information North Tyneside VODA The Shiremoor Centre, Earsdon Road, Shiremoor, Tyne & Wear, NE27 0HJ Tel: 0191 643 2626 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.voda.org.uk South Tyneside South Tyneside South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service is the ‘umbrella’ organisation for the local voluntary and community sector. HealthNet is a forum of voluntary and community organisations and individuals which aims to debate, influence and shape health and wellbeing policies. Tel. Nick Roberts on (0191) 427 1666 Email: [email protected] Web: http://blissability.webs.com/healthnet 3 December 2015 South Tyneside Council convenes a Happiness and Wellbeing group in South Tyneside contact: [email protected] and [email protected] Contact Information South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service John Hunt House, 27 Beach Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 2QA Tel: 0191 456 9551 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.stcvs.org.uk/ Newcastle Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service (Newcastle CVS) facilitates networks and forums that meet regularly to discuss shared interests and concerns and engage with local partnerships at a strategic level. Further information on the Newcastle’s networks is available via their website or by contacting Pam Jobbins [email protected] Tel. 0191 235 7017 or Martin Gollan [email protected] Tel. 0191 235 7023. The Wellbeing and Health Open Forum is the way for voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) providing adult health and social care services and activities to network, get involved and stay informed. Designed to enable VCOs to play a full and equal part in the Wellbeing for Life Board and other partnerships in Newcastle, the Open Forum gives VCOs the opportunity to identify their own priorities and to promote them to the local authority, CCG and other health agencies. Safe Newcastle Stakeholder Forum Safe Newcastle's aim is to create better lives and stronger communities by reducing crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol misuse and the supply and use of drugs throughout the city. The Safe Newcastle Board includes two voluntary and community sector representatives in its membership. CHYP IN is the voluntary sector forum for organisations working with children and young people. There are three CHYP IN open forum meetings in March, June and November, and also workshops during the year on practitioner development. Facilitated by Advocacy Centre North, Advocacy Network Newcastle works to improve the quality and range of advocacy schemes in Newcastle and acts as a forum for advocacy-related information. For more information contact Jacqui Jobson [email protected] or phone her on 0191 235 7013. There are two Change for Life partnerships operating across Newcastle: Change for Life East in Newcastle - contact Joanna Lacey: [email protected] Change for Life West in Newcastle – contact Suzy Forbes: [email protected] 4 December 2015 VOLSAG (Voluntary Sector Advisory Group) is Newcastle's Mental Health VCS Network. To find out more contact the Chair and Coordinator, Steve Nash, Tel. 07824 555 221 [email protected] Contact Information Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service Higham House, Higham Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 8AF Tel: 0191 232 7445 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.cvsnewcastle.org.uk Gateshead Gateshead Voluntary Organisations’ Council (GVOC) supports and arranges a number of networking opportunities, these include, Gateshead Community Network and a Voluntary Sector Mental Health Group. The aims of the forums are to exchange information, share problems and solutions, receive information (usually from other statutory agencies) and to, where appropriate, send representatives on behalf of the forums to Partnership meetings. GVOC also supports the Gateshead Advocacy Information Network and the North East Regional Advocacy Network (NERAN). Gateshead Dementia Action Alliance exists to transform the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers within Gateshead through promoting the National Dementia Declaration and delivering agreed Action Plans. Contact Information Gateshead Voluntary Organisations’ Council John Haswell House, 8-9 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 4DY Tel: 0191 478 4103 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.gvoc.org.uk Gateshead