Department of Health and Social Care
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Frontline NHS staff to help transform patient care
Twenty innovative new projects, designed by frontline NHS staff to transform patient care were today announced by Care Services Minister Phil Hope on Social Enterprise Day.
All frontline staff working in Primary Care Trusts can set up a social enterprise to improve their services under the “right to request” scheme. This first wave of projects include a wide range of services, including those for homeless people, children and young people and mental health services.
The initiative to encourage and support social enterprises is the first of its kind in the world.
Each of the 20 organisations will receive £30,000 of Department of Health funding; a dedicated mentor and access to professional development opportunities that will help ensure their social enterprise is a success.
Phil Hope, Minister of State for Care Services and East Midland Minister, said:
“Frontline staff see first hand how effective local services are, what works and what doesn’t. I want staff to use their specialist skills and knowledge to transform local services and improve the health and wellbeing of patients and users.
“I am delighted that twenty organisations have won support and funding to set up a social enterprise through our ‘right to request’ scheme. I look forward to seeing many more in future.”
Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition Jonathan Bland said:
“The social enterprise sector is diverse with more than 6,000 social enterprises estimated to be delivering health and social care in the UK. This figure continues to rise as growing numbers of health and social care professionals look at social enterprise as a viable option to tackle unmet needs and address health inequalities.”
Funding and support for NHS staff considering pursuing social enterprise is being provided by the Social Enterprise Unit at the Department of Health and the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.
Notes to Editors
A social enterprise is a dynamic business with primarily social objectives, where surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community.
Through the Department of Health’s Right to Request scheme, all primary and community care staff employed by PCTs can put forward a business case to set up a social enterprise. If approved, their PCT will support the development of the social enterprise and award it a contract to provide services.
The first wave of social enterprises within the NHS
The proposals to deliver primary and community services as social enterprises within the NHS include individual clinician-led services for the homeless, those in custodial/offender care environments, mental health services, dental services and services for children and young people and whole PCT provider arms delivering a full range of integrated community and primary care services.
The first wave projects include a variety of services offered by:
Derby City PCT, Bedfordshire PCT, Luton PCT, Norfolk PCT, North East Essex PCT, Salford PCT, Hull PCT, North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, Wakefield PCT, Leicester City PCT, Bexley Care Trust, Bromley PCT, Kingston PCT, Medway PCT, Mid Essex PCT, South East Essex, West Essex PCT and Barking and Dagenham PCT.
This right to request project will allow NHS staff to explore a different model of service delivery. Each application has received the approval of the relevant Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Strategic Health Authority (SHA). With appropriate support, the projects should go on to become successful and financially viable organisations that strengthen the delivery of tailored health and social care services in the NHS.
More information about the Department of Health’s social enterprise programme can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/socialenterprise
Right to Request How-To Guide
Under the ‘right to request’ commitment in the Next Stage Review, PCT boards are obliged to consider social enterprise requests from staff and, if approved, support the development of the social enterprise.
A ‘how-to’ guide, co-produced by the Department of Health and Social Enterprise Coalition, for staff considering the ‘right to request’ to set up a social enterprise can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_090460
Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF)
The £100m SEIF provides loans, grants and business support for start up and established social enterprises that are providing health and social care services in England. More information about the SEIF can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/seif.
For more information please contact Shaheena Sachedina or Katie McCory on 0207403 2230 or email shaheena@forster.co.uk or katie@forster.co.uk
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk
