UPDATE FROM THE VOICE

Welcome to The Voice – Have your say Today!

Here are this week’s topics which we would particularly like to hear your views on but please contact us with any issues you would like to raise. You can post your views on our new look forum here at www.just-ask.org.uk. Registration is quick and simple and you can start chatting online with the Sector straight away about the issues that are most important for you.   Please email networkdevelopmentteam@cvsce.org.uk if you have any problems.

Transport & Accessibility

Parking  & Accessible Venues – Have you had any difficulty in accessing a venue in Cheshire?  Post your answers on The Voice Forum

There have been recent cases at Cheshire East Council buildings, where although the building is accessible, the lack of or position of the blue badge/disabled parking bays make it inaccessible.  If you want to share your experiences or views then here is the place to do it, we can collect your responses on behalf of the Sector.

Perhaps you have a venue or meeting place that you would like to promote to the Sector?  The Venue Finder onwww.just-ask.org.uk allows people to search for meeting or event spaces and find information about whether a venue is accessible. If you have a meeting space that you would like to promote, please complete and return our attached application form to enquiries@cvsce.org.uk  Please note that the form includes detailed venue accessibility information.
Commissioning – VAT Liability on Tenders

A CEO in the sector has recently attended a Masterclass in Leeds ran by NAVCA and SERCO and used the opportunity to raise the question regarding VAT on tenders.

Thoughts were that if the Voluntary, Community & Faith Sector tender for a contract then they should assume it is vatable (as a supply of service).  Many charities, do not necessarily believe that VAT would be applicable, as perhaps they see these ‘contracts’ as grant funding, and therefore outside the scope of VAT, however this may not be the case….. Has anyone else had recent experience or guidance on this matter?  Join the discussion on The Voice Forum

Local Enterprise Partnership – Representation on LEP Board

The Sector has current representation on the LEP Board for East Cheshire but this is due to end.  Attached to this mailing is a December Update Report written by Chris Baker of Learning Together, Cheshire & Warrington.  Do you think that we need to have representation?  Please have a read of the report and have your say here.

Learning Disability Lifecourse Review

Cheshire East Council and its partners are carrying out a major review of its support and service provision to those with a Learning Disability and/or Autism (this includes both children and adults). This is one of the council’s major programmes and is included in the 3 Year Plan.  One of the key workstreams of this project is to undertake a full commissioning review of all support provided across the life course of an individual.

CVS Cheshire East continues to send information to the JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment), but what else would you like to say about the health and wellbeing needs of the people that you support who have Learning Disabilities and Autism?  Please feed back your information or views on the Voice Forum.

Have your say by joining the Caring Together Stakeholder Panel

You are probably aware that throughout Eastern Cheshire your local NHS and Council are working together to design and deliver a better way to look after people in the area – this is called Caring Together.   As part of this, the team at Caring Together would like to form a Stakeholder Panel made up of local citizens, people who work in voluntary or community groups, frontline staff and some local Councillors.  Caring Together would ideally like 15- 20 representatives from our sector.   There is a first Panel meeting on Friday 7th February 2014 in Macclesfield – Please click here to view the invitation, and here to view the Terms of Reference.  (Please note that if you would like to join the Panel and attend this meeting, you will need to confirm by Friday 31st January 2014)

Panel members can post, share and discuss issues with the Sector within the Integrated Care category on The Voice Forum.  Get involved and have your say on Integrated Care.

Healthwatch Cheshire East gives people a powerful voice locally and nationally. At a local level, they work to help people get the best out of their local health and social care services. Whether it’s improving them today or helping to shape them for tomorrow.  You can read about Healthwatch Cheshire East and their recent news here.

Views sought on Crewe’s Lifestyle Proposals

Members of the public are being encouraged to share their views on the ambitious proposals for a Crewe Lifestyle Centre at Christchurch car parks. The Lifestyle Centre is a ground-breaking concept that could see a host of vital community services housed under the same roof, with improved health and wellbeing at its core. A public engagement exercise has begun at Crewe Library and will run until Wednesday, January 22nd.  The whole Project Team will be available on January 22nd, between 2pm and 7.30pm, to answer any questions personally. For more information please click here

Reminder  – Early Help Hub Workshops – Round 2

The next round of hub workshops are starting next week.  The first round  was very much about gauging people’s willingness to be part of the process.  This next round of workshops will look at how practically the changes are made. To read the full invite please click here.

Reminder – CCG Policy Review – Your Views Needed for East Cheshire CCG and South Cheshire CCG

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s) have a duty to spend public money wisely.  As there is only a set amount of money available to spend, they have to make difficult decisions about which treatments are routinely provided. Most of the services/treatments commissioned are provided for our whole population. However, some are only clinically effective in very specific situations or for a very narrow group of patients. They require feedback on the draft Commissioning Policy that is currently being reviewed by Cheshire and Merseyside Commissioning Support Unit.  This policy incorporates procedures of lower clinical priority and Infertility. You will need to have a read of the policy before you complete the questionnaire. Click here for more information   To read the Policy Document please click here or Click here to take part in the survey . Your feedback is needed by 26th January 2014.  All the feedback that is received will be taken into account before a decision is made.

If you have any comments about this mailing or wish to speak to someone about any of the issues raised, then please email jayne.cunningham@cvsce.org.uk