Social enterprises delivering innovative improvements to health or social care can apply for a loan, grant or business support from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF).
Social enterprises are businesses with social objectives. Profits tend to be invested to benefit the community they serve.
The SIEF provides advice and funding for businesses that are starting up, as well as loans for enterprises already in existence.
Scores of care and health related enterprises have been set up across the country with the help of the fund, providing employment opportunities to local people.
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Monday, 21 June 2010
Stating the case for market shaping
The report ‘Why is market shaping and development important?’ presents key findings from analysis of the local government market.
Published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, it considers the main challenges and opportunities faced by markets in local government services, and outlines issues influencing the effectiveness of competition across the sector.
Read more
Published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, it considers the main challenges and opportunities faced by markets in local government services, and outlines issues influencing the effectiveness of competition across the sector.
Read more
Shaping markets for the future
Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands is funding a market shaping project to stimulate the development and supply of services that meet the demands of service users.
The need for market shaping has become evident with the arrival of the Personal Assistant project which focuses on increasing the number and quality of PAs to care for people on personal budgets.
The project found service users often could not find the type of assistance they want, and have to settle for less than ideal provision.
The revelation has led to the formation of the Market Shaping Project.
Over the next 12 months local authorities will be encouraged to bring service users and providers together, to gain better understanding of both sides’ needs and aspirations. The project also aims to identify innovative commissioning and service solutions, and help to develop a sustainable and varied market that includes the third sector and micro businesses.
Contact: Paul Johnston, IEWM Project Manager, email: Paul.Johnston@impactchange.co.uk, telephone: 01670 528438.
The need for market shaping has become evident with the arrival of the Personal Assistant project which focuses on increasing the number and quality of PAs to care for people on personal budgets.
The project found service users often could not find the type of assistance they want, and have to settle for less than ideal provision.
The revelation has led to the formation of the Market Shaping Project.
Over the next 12 months local authorities will be encouraged to bring service users and providers together, to gain better understanding of both sides’ needs and aspirations. The project also aims to identify innovative commissioning and service solutions, and help to develop a sustainable and varied market that includes the third sector and micro businesses.
Contact: Paul Johnston, IEWM Project Manager, email: Paul.Johnston@impactchange.co.uk, telephone: 01670 528438.
Free training in Dudley
Dudley Council’s half day training course, Safeguarding Raising Awareness, is available to all PAs free of charge.
Mandatory half day child protection training is also free, and must be taken up by PAs working in households where there are children under 16.
All other courses incur a charge for service users.
PAs and people receiving direct payments took part in consultation on barriers to recruitment in February this year. One issue to arise is the lack of support, and isolation faced by PAs. The idea of setting up a PA network is now being explored.
Contact: Judith Round, Direct Payments Co-ordinator, telephone: 01384 813465
Mandatory half day child protection training is also free, and must be taken up by PAs working in households where there are children under 16.
All other courses incur a charge for service users.
PAs and people receiving direct payments took part in consultation on barriers to recruitment in February this year. One issue to arise is the lack of support, and isolation faced by PAs. The idea of setting up a PA network is now being explored.
Contact: Judith Round, Direct Payments Co-ordinator, telephone: 01384 813465
Solihull assists PA employers
Solihull Care Trust has recently appointed a training broker to assist employers with training PAs, and to support future planning of health training needs.
Carmen Smith has been commissioned to provide employer support to individuals receiving direct payments and individual budgets, who employ PAs.
Carmen’s key responsibilities are to work with employers to identify the training needs of people they hire, and find appropriate training for them.
She is developing a training directory listing training providers and the courses they deliver.
Solihull Care Trust has purchased an e-learning training pack for PAs and trust staff to increase understanding of the PAs' role.
Future plans include provision of NVQs, apprenticeships and training for employers.
A PA events day has been organised for September 2010.
Contact: Carmen Smith, email: carmen.smith@solihull-ct.nhs.uk
Carmen Smith has been commissioned to provide employer support to individuals receiving direct payments and individual budgets, who employ PAs.
Carmen’s key responsibilities are to work with employers to identify the training needs of people they hire, and find appropriate training for them.
She is developing a training directory listing training providers and the courses they deliver.
Solihull Care Trust has purchased an e-learning training pack for PAs and trust staff to increase understanding of the PAs' role.
Future plans include provision of NVQs, apprenticeships and training for employers.
A PA events day has been organised for September 2010.
Contact: Carmen Smith, email: carmen.smith@solihull-ct.nhs.uk
PA training targets BMEs in Staffordshire
People from black and minority ethnic communities in East Staffordshire have signed up for work as personal assistants following a targeted training course set up by the borough’s social care and health service.
The sign up follows a five day training course organised by
BME Community Development Officer, Nighat Younas, and paid for by Care Match.
Participants were introduced to the role of PAs and provided with essential information about personal hygiene, diet and nutrition, and common health conditions.
The initiative started last November, when people claiming Job Seekers Allowance were invited to a jobs fair promoting careers in the care sector.
Thirteen people from Polish, Pakistani, Dutch, Caribbean, Malaysian, Indian, German and Arabic backgrounds attended, and expressed interest in working as PAs.
Training was provided in response, and all 13 of the participants have now registered as assistants.
Staffordshire care and health is helping to develop a PA workforce that reflects the diversity of the borough’s population.
Nighat is currently involved in setting up a direct payment for a Polish resident who wants to buy the services of one of the recently trained PAs.
Contact: Kay Hickinbottom, District Procurement Manager, Social Care and Health (East Staffordshire), telephone: 01283 239667.
The sign up follows a five day training course organised by
BME Community Development Officer, Nighat Younas, and paid for by Care Match.
Participants were introduced to the role of PAs and provided with essential information about personal hygiene, diet and nutrition, and common health conditions.
The initiative started last November, when people claiming Job Seekers Allowance were invited to a jobs fair promoting careers in the care sector.
Thirteen people from Polish, Pakistani, Dutch, Caribbean, Malaysian, Indian, German and Arabic backgrounds attended, and expressed interest in working as PAs.
Training was provided in response, and all 13 of the participants have now registered as assistants.
Staffordshire care and health is helping to develop a PA workforce that reflects the diversity of the borough’s population.
Nighat is currently involved in setting up a direct payment for a Polish resident who wants to buy the services of one of the recently trained PAs.
Contact: Kay Hickinbottom, District Procurement Manager, Social Care and Health (East Staffordshire), telephone: 01283 239667.
Forming a PA framework in Sandwell
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has established a framework for developing and sustaining a PA workforce.
By linking the activities of workforce commissioning and market management, a picture has emerged of what is needed to build a modern PA workforce.
The framework specifies key skills and competencies, mandatory training to be undertaken, and relevant regulations. Options for career development are also outlined, and accreditation will be offered to PAs meeting requirements.
Plans for an online market place are being considered for PAs wanting to promote their services, and for service users looking for assistants.
The spread of personal budgets has already led to a rise in the number of PAs in the borough, and feedback from this growing end of the market is positive.
Focus will remain on ensuring the PA service remains flexible enough to respond to customers’ needs, while at the same time safeguarding vulnerable adults.
By linking the activities of workforce commissioning and market management, a picture has emerged of what is needed to build a modern PA workforce.
The framework specifies key skills and competencies, mandatory training to be undertaken, and relevant regulations. Options for career development are also outlined, and accreditation will be offered to PAs meeting requirements.
Plans for an online market place are being considered for PAs wanting to promote their services, and for service users looking for assistants.
The spread of personal budgets has already led to a rise in the number of PAs in the borough, and feedback from this growing end of the market is positive.
Focus will remain on ensuring the PA service remains flexible enough to respond to customers’ needs, while at the same time safeguarding vulnerable adults.
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