INVOLVE meetings 2010-11

INVOLVE Meeting 16th June 2011

 

LAA Performance Reward Grant

Naheed Chaudry, LBM Chief Executives Policy and Partnerships Officer led a discussion on the process for allocating the Performance Reward Grant (PRG) of £1.7m. The PRG has been received from central government as a reward payment for the Merton Partnership acheiving specific targets under the Local Area Agreement.

 

The Merton Partnership Executive Board is consulting on the design principles for spending this fund. Current proposals are as follows:

  • Funding to be awarded to meet current Community Plan priorities (click here to visit the LBM website for the revised priorities), and the overarching priority of Bridging the Gap
  • Not for profit (public sector, voluntary sector and social enterprise) organisations will be able to eligble for funding.  Applications will need to demonstrate partnership working.
  • Applications will need to be endorsed or submitted by a Thematic Partnership
  • There will be no minimum or maximum value for an application
  • There is no requirement to spend all of the PRG in one funding round.
  • Funding decisions will be made by a panel of representatives from each thematic partnership and the Executive Board
  • The fund will open on 27th July. Closing date for bids will be 4th November.

 

The following points were raised in response to the proposals:

  • The creation of the PRG fund in Merton was greatly welcomed.
  • There is a need for a specific process for endorsing cross-cutting bids.
  • There should be wider involvement in the decision making-panel, including voluntary sector representation (under the Compact this has become standard practice in council grants rounds).
  • The PRG application process should make use of the latest corporate application pack, designed with sector involvement and subject of recent Compact Awards
  • Some Thematic Partnerships, with voluntary sector involvement, are likely to develop larger scale partnership projects. Voluntary groups will need information on how they can be involved in those projects, and whether other ideas will be endorsed.

 

Review of Volunteering

Simon Williams, LBM Director of Community and Housing gave a presentation on the recent review of volunteering. To download a copy of the presentation, click here

Next steps for the review includes seeking endorsement from the Cabinet, Compact Board, Safer and Stronger Thematic Partnership and the Merton Partnership Board. It is proposed that an application be made to  the Performance Reward Grant fund to take the strategy forward. It was noted that the PRG bid and delivery of the project should be led by the voluntary sector.

 

 

Children Schools and Families Early Intervention Re-commissioning

Leanne Wallder, LBM Commissioning Manager for Children and Families, gave a presentation on the future re-commissioning of Early Intervention services. To download a copy of the presentation, click here.

 

There were discussions on three questions:

  • key needs facing children and families
  • future early intervention priorities for Merton
  • ideas and experience of value-for- money delivery methods

A summary of responses has been fed back to Leanne. To read a summary click here.

 

News round-up

  • An update was given from the latest meeting of the Adult Services Voluntary Sector Task Group
  • The Heritage Lottery Fund has a specific programme to encourage applications from Merton groups.  More information will be circulated via Merton Connected.  For more information on HLF programmes, click here.
  • The Compact Funding and Procurement group is due to meet shortly to discuss the future use of funding repatriated to Merton from the London Councils grants programme.  Information will be fed back to the sector once available.

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

INVOLVE meeting 6th April 2011

Simon Williams, Director of Community and Housing gave an update on strategic issues for Adult Services:

  • Departmental Service Reviews. Reviews of Access and Assessment and Commissioning have already taken place. A review of Direct Services will take place in May.
  • Self Directed Support stocktake. The programme has acheived its target of reaching 30% of Adult Services' clients. The stocktake has explored how the process could be shortened and simplified.
  • Development of an Information and advice portal. The Voluntary Sector task group held a meeting of voluntary groups  to feed into the specification for an online information portal.
  • Development of a volunteering strategy. A conference on voluntering is taking place on 14th April.
  • Work with voluntary groups and the LBM Estates Depattment to explore the possilbility of voluntary groups taking over the Taylor Road building.
  • A new web portal, DisabledGo, which a number of local authorties including Merton have taken up. The site provides information for disabled people.
  • A reminder on changes to the NHS. From 1st April, NHS Sutton and Merton is part of South West London NHS. Penny Taylor has been appointed the new Managing Director for Merton.
  • Preparation for the transfer of Public Health responsiblity to councils. For now, Public Health will continue to straddle both Sutton and Merton. Val Day has been appointed as interim Director of Public Health.
  • The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board has been established and has held its first meeting.
  • The Royal Marsden is now delivered Community Health services in Merton.

 

Catherine Croucher, Speciality Registrar in Public Heatlh gave a presentation on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. For a copy of Catherine's presentation, click here.

 

Kate Martyn, LBM Head of Policy Partnerships and Communities gave a presentation on a voluntary sector review. For a copy of Kate's presentation, click here.

 

News round up

  • Representation roles on a number of partnership bodies, including the Merton Partnership, Executive Board and thematic partnerships, are due to be advertised shortly,
  • MVSC is promoting The Big Sign Up, to encourage people connected to the voluntary and community sector in Merton to register on Merton Connected.
  • MVSC is in discussion with LBM regarding the continuation of the contract to host the Local Involvement Network for 2011/12. LBM will attend a future INVOLVE meeting to discuss the development of Local HealthWatch.
  • The Merton Partnership Executive Board has begun to look at mechanisms for using the £1.7m Performance Reward Grant received for acheiving LAA targets.
  • MVSC is to organise an event to map the delivery of re-ablement services across different sectors. This will be advertised shortly. 
  • Updates from Merton Partnership, Thematic Partnerships and other partnership bodies are available on the Your Voice pages on Merton Connected.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

INVOLVE meeting 9th February 2011

Simon Williams presentation

Simon Williams, Director of Community and Housing, gave an update on the adult services grants process, the work of the Adult Services Voluntary Sector Task Group and the review of volunteering.  For a copy of Simon's presentation, click here. 

The task group is due to continue its work during 2011.  It was agreed that INVOLVE would look again at representation on this and other bodies (including CEN and Compact) at a future meeting of INVOLVE.

Merton Connected

Stephen Trousse, MVSC Communication Officer gave a presentation on how to maximise the benefits of Merton Connected.  In particular, Stephen encouraged groups to submit articles for the news pages and communtiy diary and encouraged groups to sign up trustees, staff and volunteers to receive the weekly e-bulletin.  For a copy of Stephen's handout, click here. 

News/ information round-up

  • A voluntary sector review, updating the Voluntary Sector Strategy, is being taken forward through the Compact Funding and Procurement subgroup.

  • Proposals to repatriate £350k from London Councils funding is on hold following a judicial review.

  • It is now expected that Merton will receive approx. £1.7m in LAA reward grant.  The Merton Partnership and Thematic Partnerships are being asked to identify priorities.

  • A review of the Merton Partnership is being carried out followng the Partnership awayday in October 2010.  A report is due at the March meeting of the Merton Partnership Executive Board,.

  • A group of Voluntary Sector representatives were invited to meet with LBM Corporate Management Team to discuss budget issues for the sector, volunteering and capacity building, the Localism bill and the potential for asset transfers.

  • The Adult Services Task Group are planning an event to look at the delivery of re-ablement services.

  • The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment containing statistics on local communities and health issues, is available online at the NHS Sutton and Merton website.

  • Updates from Merton Partnership, Thematic Partnerships and other partnership bodies are available on the Your Voice pages on Merton Connected.

 For more information on any of these items, Contact Dave Hobday at MVSC

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Adult Services Grants programme meeting 9th December 2010

For a report on this meeting click here.

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

INVOLVE meeting 11th November 2010

Latest position on Council funding and services

Simon Williams, Director of Community and Housing and Leanne Wallder, Joint Commissioning Manager for Children and Families gave presentations on the latest position regarding funding and service delivery in their respective departments. Copies of the presentations are available below. 

There was also feedback from the Adult Services Task Group. The group is currently looking at:

  • identifying priorities

  • principles, such as contributions from service users

  • transport provision.

For more information on the task group click here

 

Peninsula Employment Law specialists

Jill Coote and Dennis Upfold from Peninsula gave a presentation on HR services available from their company, including a special voluntary sector service available via NAVCA. Click here for a copy of Peninsula's brochure. For information from the NAVCA website click here or contact MVSC on 020 8685 1771.

 

Infoshare

  • Money Talk 18th November, South Mitcham Community Association.  Ffree financial advice and information for local residents.  For more information click here.

  • The Go Forum is about to launch an award scheme highlighting organisations’ responsiveness to the needs of disabled people. More information, will be circulated shortly.

  • LINk Merton is about to carry out a survey of voluntary groups delivering footcare services. For more information and to completee the questionnaire, click here.

 

Presentations from INVOLVE 11th November

Simon Williams presentation (PowerPoint show 120Kb)

Leanne Wallder presentation (PowerPoint show 2.7Mb)

 

____________________________________________________________________________________

INVOLVE meeting 22nd July 2010

Latest position on Council Budgets. Simon Williams, LBM Director of Community and Housing

Simon Williams gave an overview on the current financial position for the council and implications for Adult Services. LBM has a current annual budget gap of around £14m which could increase after the Comprehensive Spending Review in the Autumn.  As Social care is a big part of council spending, this has major implications for the department.

Simon empahsised local strengths including a strong voluntary sector, good partnership working and compact principles.  He asked for a conversation with the sector on future priorities and would also welcome a discussion on building social capital, e.g. through encouraging volunteering.

 

Preparation for the Census 2011 Kris Witherington, Community Engagement Manager, LBM Chief Executives department

Kris Witherington gave a presentation on the preparation for next year’s census and the role voluntary and community groups might play in encouraging take up.  A copy of Kris’ presentation is available at the end of this section.

 

Wilson Health Centre, Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey gave a presentation on the new Health Centre next to the Wilson Hospital. Paul emphasised that he was keen for groups to contact him to discuss how the service can meet the needs for specific communities. Paul can be contacted on 020 3458 5043 or you can send him an e-mail by clicking here.  A copy of Paul’s presentation is available at the end of this section.

 

Presentations from INVOLVE 22nd July 2010

Kris Witherington Census Presentation (PowerPoint Show 425Kb)

Paul Harvey Wilson Health Centre Presentation (PowerPoint Show 1.99Mb)

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

INVOLVE meeting 22nd June 2010

Better Health Care Closer to Home -  Stephen Waring, NHS Sutton and Merton Director of Strategy

Stephen gave a presentation on the BHCH programme.  A copy of the presentation is available to download below.  Key points of discussion were as follows:

  • The St Helier development has been approved by the Coalition Government.  The overall programme is being reviewed by the PCT and it is hoped it will be finalised in the autumn. 

  • The NHS is being re-organised, and in particular the future role of PCTs will be very different.  GPs will have a far greater role in commisioning services.

  • There is a role for the VCS as potential service providers.  There will be further opportunties to explore this role as plans develop.

  • There is also a role for the VCS in helping design patient pathways and referal to services.  We will seek to broker meetings to look at this in the future.

  • There was also a discussion on the need to egage with GP commissioning groups.

 

Adult services Health and Social Care grants programme: Rahat Ahmed-Man, LBM Adult Services interim Head of Commissioning

Rahat gave an update on the position regarding the Adult Services Health and Social Care programme.  Groups have been informed that current funding has been rolled over for a further 3 months whilst decisions are finalised.

Rahat suggested that there was a need to work with the sector to look at the delivery of voluntary sector services, and the opportunity for greater collaboration between groups.  A meeting will be set up to develop this.

 

Information share

Update from the Local Involvement Network

Roy Benjamin, Chair of the LINk Merton Steering Group, gave an update on the work of the LINk over the past year and plans for the coming year. Projects from last year included:

  • Self Directed Support – a focus group was held with serivce users.  The report from this is being finalised.

  • Outreach programme – Meetings were held with a number of groups to help shape this year’s work programme. The steering group is keen to recruit members from BME community groups.

  • Participation in the development of the Dementia strategy

  • Service review of Hospital discharge processes from St Helier hospital.  The report on this is being finalised.

Possible new priorities for the 2010-11 work programme include:

  • Work on GP accountability- mapping patient forums, how can patients’ voice better heard,

  • Access to chiropody services

  • Continuing work from previous year.

Reports from CEN representatives

A new online system has been established for reports from Reps at www.mertonconnected.com/your-voice.

 

Vacancies for voluntary sector representatives

Vacancies currently exist for the following partnership groups:

  • Local Safeguarding Childrens Board

  • Early Childhood partnership, reporting to the Childrens Trust

  • Citizenship and Inclusing delivery group, reporting to the Healthier Citizens Thematic Partnership

  • Healthy Living delivery group, reporting to the Healthier Citizens Thematic Partnership

  • Service Delivery group, reporting to the Healthier Citizens Thematic Partnership

More information, including terms of reference and how often the groups meet, will be circulated shortly.  If anyone is interested in representing the sector on these groups, please contact dave@mvsc.co.uk.

 

Meeting papers

Stephen Waring presentation (please note pictures have been taken out of the presentation to reduce file size) - PowerPoint show (1.76MB)

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

Special Involve meeting 24th March 2010

This meeting continued the work on developing the Adult Services grants process and joint commissioning strategy.

 

The draft joint commissioning strategy is due to be put out for consultation in April.

The grant application pack will be launched on 1st April.  The documents will be publicised on Merton Connected as soon as they are available.

 

A paper was circulated giving an update on issues currently being discussed at the Merton Partnership, Executive Board and Thematic Partnership Meetings.  For a copy of the paper, click here

__________________________________________________________________________________

Minutes from meeting 2 March 2010

A special meeting of INVOLVE was held on 2 March to give updates on the development of the Adult Services Joint Commissioning Strategy and future grants process. For notes of the meeting and copies of the presentations, click here.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Adult Services Grants meeting 11th January 2010

For a copy of the notes from the meeting on the future Adult Services Commissioning strategy, click here

Groups: