Policy and Information

CAH aims to help voluntary and community organisations and rural communities keep up-to-date with, understand and influence the environment in which they live and work. This is achieved by:

• Tracking policy and strategic developments
• Providing information on policy developments and changes at briefing events and in briefing papers, and in CAH's regular publications, Action News Update and Communiqué
• Providing a voice on issues affecting the voluntary and community sector and rural communities
• Working to strengthen that voice by encouraging improved links and partnership working at county and regional level and across sectors
• Responding to consultations at county, regional and national level
• Undertaking research and publish results as appropriate
• Ensuring that Hampshire's concerns are taken into consideration through our membership of various partnerships and regional and national bodies

Providing a voice

CAH also works to give the VCS a voice. For example, in response to wide-spread concern and dismay at HCC Adult Services’ consultation on plans to tighten eligibility criteria, CAH quickly arranged a meeting for VCOs to discuss the situation. Although the consultation was cancelled, dialogue with Adult Services has continued, and a major event was held in July 2007. You can find out more about this work on One Compact pages.  

health and social care email network

The eligibility consultation gave rise to the start of the Health and Social Care email network. CAH uses this network to alert health & social care VCOs to consultations, tender opportunities, training and events that may be of interest. Recently this has included:

• Event in October 2007 looking at social enterprise in the delivery of health and social care in Hampshire
• Self-directed support in Hampshire workshops, June and September 2008
• Tenders: Home from hospital tender; Tender for day services for older people with dementia and/or with a physical disability – 3 separate contracts for Whitchurch, Hart, Rushmoor
• Local consultations: Hampshire Older People’s Mental Health strategy consultation; Hampshire Older People’s Well-being strategy
• National consultations: Finding a Shared Vision of How People's Mental Health Problems Should Be Understood; Valuing People Now: From progress to transformation; Improving health, supporting justice; Improving Specialist Disability Employment Services; Dept of Health third sector funding review; Local petitions and Calls for Action
• NHS Operating Framework 2008/09
• Putting People First – transformation of adult social care 
• Grants from Equalities & Human Rights Commission and HIOW Community Foundation

If you would like to be added to the Health & Social Care e-mail network, please contact Rosie Taylor.