Engagement on Long Term In-patient Mental Health Facilities

B&NES Primary Care Trust mental health commissioners are looking for feedback in the first stages of thinking about the best way to provide future in-patient mental health services in B&NES . Your views will help to build and shape their ideas on eventual proposals. The questionnaire and information is for voluntary and community groups and for service users and carers. Click here  Please send your feedback/questionnaires to: Andrea Morland, Mental Health Change Programme Manager, Trust HQ, St Martin’s Hospital, Clara Cross Road, BA2 5RP or by e-mail to andrea.morland@banes-pct.nhs.uk   Closing Date 30 June. There will be a Mental Health Service Users and Carers Event on Wednesday 23 July from 10 - 1pm at St Luke's Church Hall in Bath. This event will follow up the feedback given in the questionnaires and gather more information from service users and carers. More information about this will be circulated shortly

 

 

Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy. A commitment in The Children's Plan

 

The strategy will aim for ‘children, young people and their families to take an active role in the development of local play spaces; and that play places are attractive, welcoming, engaging and accessible for all local children and young people, including disabled children, children of both genders, and children from minority groups in the community’. More background information on the Play England website.  Access the consultation on the Dept for Children Schools and Families (DfES) website.  Closing Date 18 July 2008.

 

 

 

ACAS code of practice on discipline and grievance.

 

From April 2009, instead of statutory procedures there will be an ACAS code of practice on discipline and grievance, setting out the basic principles of good practice. The draft code, with details of how to respond to the consultation  is available via www.acas.org.uk/dandgcode . The most recent version of the Employment Bill is at http://services.parliament.uk/bills.  The current ACAS code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, while the statutory procedures are still in effect, is at www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/9/5/CP01_1.pdf.  Closing date 25 July 2008.

 

 

A Stronger Society: Voluntary Action in the 21st Century

 

This Conservative Green paper ends with a  set of ‘top twenty policy pledges’ that could be implemented
by a future Conservative government. This is an opportunity for the voluntary sector to contribute to how
government relates to it in future, regardless of which party wins the next election, as the policies which are developed out of this paper will change the terms of reference of the current political debate.
Download a copy of the green paper - click here. or the Executive Summary - click here.
To respond to the green paper, please contact:James O’Shaughnessy, Conservative Campaign Headquarters
30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4DP.

 

 

Review on the Role of SMEs in Public Procurement - Call for Evidence
On the 12th March the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his budget speech that he had asked Anne Glover, Chief Executive of Amadeus Capital Partners, to lead a committee to inquire into the barriers small firms face in winning public sector contracts, to make recommendations on the necessary action to reduce these barriers over the next five years and to examine the practicality of setting a goal for SMEs to win 30% of all public sector business. The committee is to report jointly to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in time for the Pre-Budget Report which will be issued in the Autumn. To ensure that the report reflects the views of businesses and public sector procurers we are interested in gaining your views, and hearing about your experiences. Click here to find out how to have your say. Consultation closes 8 August 2008.
 

 

Changing Values - a survey into the changing values of voluntary sector workers and activists over the last few decades; with particular reference to community development. You are invited to contribute to this survey conducted by Bryn Jones, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at University of Bath. The results will be used in a conference paper and possibly in one or more academic journals. All responses to the survey are anonymous and the overall results will be made available at the end of the survey on the following link. http://people.bath.ac.uk/hssbj/  If you are in any way interested in the changing value base of the voluntary sector, it would be good to have your views in this survey. The questionnaire will be available online for 10 weeks - until 2 September 2008, although early responses would be much appreciated.
To take part in the survey please click here.

 

 

Transforming the Quality of Dementia Care - consultation on a National Dementia Strategy. This is one of the first national strategies that focuses on the Commissioner's responsibility in delivering high quality services rather than expecting providers to drive improvements. The consultation paper can be downloaded - click here.  Responses should be submitted by 11 September 2008

 

 

Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care: consultation. Dept of Health consultation on measures to remove perceived obstacles to volunteering and support volunteering in health and social care. The consultation will run until 30 September 2008, with a view to publication of a final strategy and implementation plan in early 2009. More information on Dept of Health website. Consultation workshop: 2 September 2008
Somerset County Cricket Club, Taunton TA1 1JT. Details and booking form.

 

Third Sector Partnership Board: Consultation Paper on the third sector's strategic voice within Communities and Local Government. The proposal is to create a revitalised and enhanced CLG Third Sector Partnership Board to be at the core of its future strategic engagement with the third sector. Consultation runs until 30 September 2008. Download the consultation paper  - click here
 

The Empowerment Fund: Consultation on proposals for funding third sector organisations to empower communities across England. Seeks views on a draft of the Empowerment Fund Prospectus which the Government intends to issue. This fund will provide support for existing national third sector organisations operating across England to help local communities turn key proposals into practical action on the ground in such areas as community leadership,
involvement in planning and social enterprise. Consultation runs until 30 September 2008. Download the consultation paper - click here

 

National framework for greater citizen engagement - This discussion paper sets out a proposed framework for greater citizen engagement, using innovative methods such as citizens' summits and juries to inform national policy-making. The Government wants to provide increased opportunities for people to participate in the decision making processes between elections and in ways that also encourage participation by those whose voices are not often heard. The paper also contains proposals for strengthening the process for petitioning the House of Commons. More information from  Ministry of Justice website. Responses by 1 October 2008. A summary of the responses to this discussion document will be published in October 2008 and will be available at http://www.justice.gov.uk/index.htm

 

Transforming Places; changing lives: a framework for regeneration. The framework consults on a list of proposals to shape the future processes of regeneration in England. Three priority outcomes are: improved rates of work and enterprise and improved economic performance in deprived areas and creating sustainable places where people want to live and can work, and businesses want to invest. Closing date 31 October 2008. Download from Communities & Local Government website.
 

 Consultation Events

B&NES PCT and B&NES Social and Housing Services are looking for people’s ideas and views on local plans for health and well being for the next three to five years. This is an ideal opportunity to inform their strategic thinking.There are three meetings:

	St Luke's Church Hall, Wellsway, Bath - Wednesday 16 July 2 - 4.30,
	Key Centre, Keynsham - Tuesday 22 July 10 - 12.30;
	Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton - Thursday 24 July 10 - 12.30.

For details please see event flyer.

 

There will be a Mental Health Service Users and Carers Event on Wednesday 23 July from 10 - 1pm at St Luke's Church Hall in Bath. This event will follow up the feedback given in the Long Term In-patient Mental Health Facilities questionnaires and gather more information from service users and carers. More information about this will be circulated shortly
 

Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care: consultation. Dept of Health consultation on measures to remove perceived obstacles to volunteering and support volunteering in health and social care. The consultation will run until 30 September 2008, with a view to publication of a final strategy and implementation plan in early 2009. More information on Dept of Health website. Consultation workshop: 2 September 2008
Somerset County Cricket Club, Taunton TA1 1JT. Details and booking form.

 Results of Closed Consultations

Core Strategy Draft Consultation

The consultation period has now ended - Follow this link to view the Voluntary Sector Steering Group's response  . A summary of the issues raised is to be taken to the cabinet on 5 March. You can read all the comments on the Council website. Follow this link to find updates on the Local Development Framework, the Core Strategy and the Regional Spatial Strategy. LDF Newsletter Feb08.

 

Big Lottery Fund Stakeholder Survey 2007

To read the results of this consultation and the Big Lottery response please follow this link to the Big Lottery website.

 

 

 Consultation Archive

Consultation documents for general reference and interest.

Principles of Representation: A framework for effective third sector participation in Local Strategic Partnerships
Discussion Document

Bidding for contracts for services – involvement of faith groups  ended 14 March.

 

Back to the start of content.