VCSE Health and Wellbeing programme evaluation

Health and Wellbeing Programme evaluation
DHSC 14 October 2021

• Two independent evaluation reports have been published of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Programme which was launched in 2018. The programme provides grants to VCSE organisations through 2 co-dependent funded mechanisms:
• the Health and Wellbeing Alliance – to cover partnership working
• the Health and Wellbeing Fund – for more targeted health interventions with social prescribing the initial thematic focus

Community champion approaches: rapid scoping review of evidence

Community champion approaches: rapid scoping review of evidence
PHE 26 August 2021

• Community champions or health champions are active community members who draw on their local knowledge, skills and life experience to promote health and wellbeing or improve conditions in their local community. They address barriers to engagement and improve connections between services and disadvantaged communities. Many local areas have developed community champion programmes to help support their local coronavirus (COVID-19) response.
• This rapid scoping review pulls together and considers existing research evidence on community champions approaches, both from the UK and internationally.
• Overall, findings show that:
• champion approaches are highly relevant to reducing health inequalities in a range of contexts
• there a range of different models and ways of building community champion programmes
• these approaches can be applied flexibly to meet local needs and assets champions can be key connectors in communities but these roles do not operate in isolation and need to be embedded in effective community engagement strategies

What have we learned so far about COVID-19 volunteering in the UK? A rapid review of the literature

What have we learned so far about COVID-19 volunteering in the UK? A rapid review of the literature
medRxiv 2020.11.22.20236059; 23 November 2020, [Preprint, not peer reviewed] 

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.22.20236059

• This article describes a systematic review of the literature focused on two broad questions: 
• What have we learned so far from COVID-19 volunteering both at the UK national level and the more local community level? 
• What have we learned from engagement with local communities and community champions during the COVID-19 period?

Abstract

Volunteering and wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic

Volunteering and wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic | WCPP
Wales Centre for Public Policy 7 June 2021

• Volunteering has played a crucial role in supporting communities during the pandemic. Interest in volunteering saw a dramatic spike early in the pandemic, and volunteers have helped meet people’s emotional and physical needs during the crisis. To inform this recovery planning, WCPP conducted two studies on the contribution of volunteering to individual and community wellbeing during the pandemic: a synthesis of 50 practice-based case studies using a case study synthesis method (Part 1: Learning from practice) and a rapid evidence review (Part 2: Rapid evidence review).

Happy to help: The welfare effects of a nationwide micro-volunteering programme

Happy to help:The welfare effects of a nationwide micro-volunteering programme
London School of Economics 31 May 2021

• In a survey of over 9,000 active participants on the NHS Volunteer Responders programme, the researchers found that even small acts of volunteering, including talking to at-risk individuals on the phone or helping to deliver groceries boosted participants sense of wellbeing and increased feelings of belonging within the local community.

Unlocking the digital front door - keys to inclusive healthcare

Unlocking the digital front door - keys to inclusive healthcare
National Voices  May 2021

• This report explores how the move to remote service models impacted people and how the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) has led innovative ways to deliver healthcare and support people during the COVID 19 pandemic. Also available is a literature review and insight data, personal narratives and recommendations for better practice, better policy, and better innovations.

Community-based volunteering in response to COVID-19: the COV-VOL project

Voluntary sector plays key role in delivering community services during lockdown
NIHR ARC Kent Surrey Sussex 11 May 2021

• A study by a team of researchers from the University of Kent, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Sussex University shows how voluntary community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations have made a significant, positive impact on the well-being of older people self-isolating at home during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of volunteers and community and the role VCSE organisations can play as key and essential partners in our health and social care systems.

COVID-19 vaccination programme

COVID-19 vaccination programme
BMA 17 November 2020 

• Details about what the CVP (COVID-19 vaccination programme) service in England involves, what is expected of practices, what providers will get to support this work, and guidance on what to do now.
• St John Ambulance will support NHS staff in delivering the COVID-19 vaccination programme across England. 18 November 2020

Rolling Out Social Prescribing

Rolling Out Social Prescribing
National Voices September 2020

• Understanding the experience of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. This report sets out the findings of research conducted by National Voices for NHS England to explore the perspectives and experiences of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in relation to the NHS rollout of social prescribing. We heard from over 300 people through a series of interviews, workshops and online engagements between December 2019 and June 2020.

Plugging the gaps: new cost-effectiveness guidance for charities

Plugging the gaps: new cost-effectiveness guidance for charities
What Works Wellbeing 17 September 2020

• A seven-step approach to assess the wellbeing cost-effectiveness of a charitable intervention. This guide provides a solution for those who seek to measure their wellbeing cost effectiveness, but who have not yet directly measured wellbeing using the ONS measure of Life satisfaction.

Primary Care Network Briefing Paper for VCSE

Primary Care Network Briefing Paper for VCSE
National Voices February 2020

• The resource explains a new way in which health and care services are being organised locally across England and explores how voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations might supply knowledge, expertise and training to help PCNs develop.

A Local Community Course That Raises Mental Wellbeing and Pro-Sociality

A Local Community Course That Raises Mental Wellbeing and Pro-Sociality
Centre for Economic Performance, LSE January 2020

Results of a randomised controlled trial of the "Exploring What Matters" course, a scalable social-psychological intervention aimed at raising general adult population mental wellbeing and pro-sociality.  The course, which is run by non-expert volunteers in their local communities, consists of eight consecutive weekly sessions lasting between two and 2.5 hours each. Each of these sessions builds on a thematic question, for example, what matters in life, how to find meaning at work, or how to build happier communities. Results indicate improved wellbeing and prosociality while reducing mental ill health.

Data Files associated with this paper.

Abstract

Position statement on loneliness and social isolation

Position statement on loneliness and social isolation
British Geriatrics Society, Royal College of Psychiatrists 17 December 2019

• Early identification and treatment of health conditions that increase loneliness are crucial to improving the lives of older people. Key elements of this position statement include improving the process of identifying older people suffering from loneliness, the role of social prescribing and voluntary sector interventions, and advice for commissioners.

Primary Care Networks - primer by National Voices

Primary Care Networks
National Voices October 2019

• 'Explainer' resources that can be used by voluntary sector groups and networks to explain the changes, and explore why and how to work with PCNs.

Critical Success Factors for co-production in VCSE organisations

Critical Success Factors for co-production in VCSE organisations
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School October 2019

• This report presents examples of how co-production was carried out across 5 VCSE organisations focusing on the enabling factors, skills and processes. It also considers the advantages and disadvantages of the co-productive approach to service design and delivery, and concludes by outlining the critical success factors for co-production in VCSE organisations.

Equipping leaders to build relationships that transform our healthcare system

Transforming Healthcare Together: Equipping leaders to build relationships that transform our healthcare system
Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)

• Free support (resources, webinars, coaching, Practice Development Network) for health, care and VCSE leaders who want to drive action through partnership working.

The contribution of large charities to shaping future health and care

Investing in quality: The contribution of large charities to shaping future health and care
Kings Fund for the National Garden Scheme 15 May 2019

• Through a selection of case studies, the report highlights areas of work by six major charities that are supported by funding from the National Garden Scheme, and are contributing to addressing current policy issues and supporting the future direction of health and care. 
• The report reflects on how the statutory system and the wider voluntary and community sector can work together to deliver some of the key priorities of the NHS long-term plan and drive improvements in health and care.

Improving community support for older people’s needs through commissioning third sector services: a qualitative study.

Improving community support for older people’s needs through commissioning third sector services: a qualitative study.
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 24(2), 116–123. 10 April 2019
https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819619829774
An exploration of the relationships between commissioning organisations and third sector organisations across one region of England, both with an interest in supporting the needs of older people identified a diversity of commissioning arrangements for third sector services. Service data, including assessments of needs and outcomes, were reported to commissioners, however commissioners did not appear to use this to full advantage to inform future commissioning decisions. 

Abstract

What does good social prescribing and community based support look like?

Social prescribing and community-based support: Summary guide
NHS England 31 January 2019

• The Social Prescribing Summary Guide is intended for people and organisations leading local implementation of social prescribing. It enables:
• increased understanding of what good social prescribing looks like and why social prescribing improves outcomes and experiences for people, their families and carers, as well as achieving more value from the system
• commissioning of local social prescribing connector schemes, enabling all general practices, local authorities and other agencies to refer people with wider social needs to community-based support
• collaborative working amongst all local partners at a ‘place-based’ local level, to recognise the value of community groups and assets and to enable people to build or rebuild friendships, community connections and a sense of belonging, as well as accessing existing services.

NHS England Board meeting 28 November 2018

NHS England Board meeting

28 November 2018

Highlights for Arden & GEM CSU by Anne Gray, Knowledge Officer

Board Papers available here.

Agenda

1. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

2. Chairman’s Report

3. Chief Executive’s Report

4. Freedom to Speak Up:

• Annual Report and Update on the work of the National Guardian’s Office

• Update on the work of the NHS England Freedom to Speak Up Guardians’ work

5. Developing the NHS long term plan: reducing inappropriate clinical procedures

6. Low Priority Prescribing Consultation and GlutenFree Food Guidance

7. Update on new voluntary medicines pricing scheme

8. Best value adalimumab product in the NHS Inform Matthew Swindells

9. Third progress report from the Empowering People and Communities Taskforce

10. NHS Performance and update on progress against the FYFV

11. Winter Preparations 2019-20

12. Consolidated Month 6 2018/19 Financial Report

13. Reports from Board Committees

i. Commissioning Committee

ii. Investment Committee Assure

iii. Specialised Services Commissioning

iv. Audit and Risk Assurance Committee

Date of next NHS England Board meeting Thursday, 31 January 2019

Highlights for Arden and GEM CSU