SW social enterprise and community sector to drive health and care service change
A report commissioned by South West Academic Health Science Network (SW AHSN) and the five Local Authorities across the region (Cornwall, Plymouth, Devon, Torbay and Somerset) has been published today.
The report was delivered by social advisory firm The Good Economy and outlines the significant opportunity for the South West’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) to play a key role in evolving the regional health and care system. The 46 page report outlines the massive challenge facing health care provision, and highlights the move towards an increasing focus on wellbeing, preventing ill-health and enabling individuals to take greater control of their own care.
Jon Siddall, Director of Investment Partnerships, SW AHSN said, “We believe the VCSE sector has the potential to play a significant role in future models of health and care, harnessing the knowledge deep within communities to develop innovative, person-centred responses to the needs of our population”.
The report also highlights the need to develop new approaches to partnership and collaboration and the requirement for new sources of funding and finance to develop, test and scale innovative VCSE models of care.
This report titled “Innovation in Health and Care: the Opportunity for VCSEs – a South West Perspective” explores in detail the role of the VCSE sector, the commissioners of health and care, and the social investment market in the demand for and supply of funding.
Report’s authors Sarah Forster, The Good Economy and Dan Gregory, Common Capital highlight five key areas of opportunity and recommend how to realise these opportunities in the South Whttp://www.swahsn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Innovation-in-Health-Care-The-Opportunity-for-VCSEs-SW.pdfest. These recommenda¬tions will form the basis of the SW AHSN’s future work with members and partners to support innovation from the VCSE sector in the South West.
To read the summary report click here. To access the full report, please contact SW AHSN on info@swahsn.com or phone 01392 247903.
