ICB Meeting Highlights Reliance on Community Groups Amidst Pressures
At the Integrated Care Board (ICB) meeting held on 15th January, the critical role of voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations was a recurring theme, as the ICB grapples with ongoing system challenges.
The Board acknowledged that health inequalities, productivity, and value for money are not currently meeting acceptable standards. Due to financial limitations, progress in these areas is slow, leading to a continued reliance on VCSE organisations for prevention, outreach, and early intervention services.
In a positive light, the Board recognised the significant impact of small, community-based mental health grants. These initiatives provide vital non-clinical support, reducing the need for more intensive secondary services and improving access for underserved populations. The Board voiced strong support for expanding these cost-effective, community-driven schemes.
Further investment in Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) was approved, with Macmillan funding earmarked to support individuals with complex needs. This decision explicitly recognises the VCSE sector’s community-based, non-clinical interventions as essential for the overall system’s functionality and long-term sustainability
The ICB continues to face considerable financial and workforce pressures, which are impacting the pace of transformation programs. These challenges underscore the necessity for innovative solutions, where the VCSE sector is expected to play a pivotal role.The full meeting snapshot can be read here.
Dorset VCSA Webinar Highlights the Importance of Neighbourhood Health
The Dorset VCSA Virtual Exchange Webinar held on 29th January, recently shed light on the concept of neighbourhood health, defining it as a system where healthcare is brought closer to people’s homes. The emphasis is on early intervention, community-based strategies, and robust collaboration between various local service providers, including the voluntary sector, councils, and the NHS. This definition seeks to establish a common understanding of the core principles guiding neighbourhood health initiatives.
A key theme of the webinar was the “left shift,” which involves moving away from hospital-centric care towards community-based and preventative services, in line with the NHS 10-year plan. The voluntary sector was identified as playing a vital role in driving this shift, particularly in the areas of prevention and promoting overall well-being. The seminar also clarified the distinction between “place,” referring to the Dorset Council and BCP Council footprints, and “neighbourhood,” primarily defined by Primary Care Networks (PCNs). This distinction is essential for understanding how services are structured and delivered at different levels.
Furthermore, the webinar included a call to action for the voluntary sector, urging them to adapt to the changing landscape, collaborate with other services, understand their PCN, and clearly articulate their contribution to the “left shift.” The importance of co-production, where services are designed and audited in partnership with the community, was also emphasised. Additionally, the need for shared data and metrics was highlighted to ensure that efforts are aligned and that the data collected is meaningful for all stakeholders involved in neighbourhood health initiatives.
The webinar was recorded and is available for viewing on the VCSA YouTube channel. Previous webinars can also be accessed on the channel here. There will be two more webinars in this series in February and March; details and links to book here.
