Integrated Care System workshop

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VIN delivered the first ICS workshop in Northampton on the 28 of March 2022, with funding from NHS England and the Lottery Community Fund. Over 50 delegates attended to hear a range of speakers, including the Independent Chair of the soon to be convened Integrated Care Board (ICB) and West Northamptonshire Council on Health Transformation in Localities and Neighbourhoods. The Integrated Care System (ICS) is a fundamental change to how Population Health Management will be delivered in our communities. Within the ICS structure, there is a requirement to embed and work with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE).  This guidance can be viewed here.

It will not be the role of the ICS to prescribe how they work with the VCSE, just that they will. Experience across the UK, in other Integrated Care Systems, demonstrate that the more the VCSE can group together along Thematic lines, the better the opportunity to engage. The Mental Health Collaborative, within our County, is an excellent example of this, with 50 organisations coming together to discuss the issues and challenges around the subject. With a weight of 50, they will be listened to.

The ICS cannot engage with every single VCSE organisation, so alignment is critical, particularly at Tier 1 (Neighbourhoods) and Tier 2 (Localities). At the moment, there is no real detail about who will sit where and why. Part of the solution will be driven by Local Authority data which informs health decisions based upon statistics and trends – but the rest is up for grabs.

One way of ensuring you are part of the collective is to join the VCSE Assembly. You can do this by simply emailing the Project Officer Kerri, at: kerri@vcseassembly.org.uk

The Assembly will keep you informed about what’s happening in the ICS, demystify some of the terminology, and has a place at the table of the potentially new Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), which will help inform the VCSE viewpoint on a whole range of health-related issues. Membership is free so there’s every incentive to join and have your say.

VIN is hosting another workshop on the 9 of May 2022 in Kettering, so if you missed the first one you still have an opportunity to engage and understand. You can book your place here.

Play Action International needs volunteers

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Play Action International’s Ukraine Play Box Appeal aims to give boxes of toys and play materials to as many of the estimated 90,000 Ukrainian children who are expected to arrive in the UK over the coming weeks as possible, as well as to Ukrainian children seeking refuge in Eastern Europe. By offering Ukraine’s children boxes of toys and play materials, together we can begin to give them a sense of their childhood back and heal through play.

The Play Boxes being sent to Play Action International for this appeal all need to be hand-checked before they give them to Ukrainian refugee children. This is where you come in!

Play Action International need volunteers who can come to Yodel’s base in Northampton (Yodel, Unit 4, Mercury Drive, Northampton, NN4 7JE) and help to check through Play Boxes and prepare them for sending.

Please fill out the form below with your availability for volunteering. The shifts available will be Mon – Fri, 11:00am-2:00pm and 2:30pm-5:30pm. You will be contacted THE DAY BEFORE, between 4:00pm – 7:00pm, to see if you are still available to volunteer.

The number of volunteers we need will vary from day to day, so please be flexible where possible. This is due to the unknown response and unknown quantity of boxes Play Action International will receive each day. You will be an essential part of this operation and Play Action International cannot thank you enough for volunteering your time.

Sign up to volunteer here.

To send a Play Box today, find the 3 ways of giving here.

happy-at-home-volunteer-story.pdf

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How are trees managed in west Northamptonshire

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West Northamptonshire Council has an activity called scrutiny where councillors look at issues affecting the people of West Northamptonshire or how the council works and makes recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee has set up a task panel to look at the way the council manages trees – both trees it owns and those where it has a regulatory role through the planning system – and how trees can best help improve West Northamptonshire in the future.

They are seeking views on this subject, whether you are a resident of West Northamptonshire, someone who works here, a business in West Northamptonshire or an interest group.

Your answers will help the council shape a new tree policy and strategy and so guide the way trees are managed across West Northamptonshire.

Please click below to access further information and how to access the survey.

volunteer-car-scheme-pack

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driver declaration

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driver-application-form

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VIN and Growing Together

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Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire is working with Growing Together to form a Community Organising Partnership on the Talavera Ward of Northampton ( Southlands, Thorplands and Blackthorn). With funding from Awards for All and West Northamptonshire Council, this 12-month programme hopes to inspire communities to help themselves, become involved in social activities, and bring people together to solve issues of mutual concern.

Russell Rolph, CEO of Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire states:

I am really excited to be working with Growing Together on this. Where Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire has obtained funding, but others are best placed to deliver its right that we partner in this way. The next 12 months will be challenging but interesting.

For more information on the Community Organising Approach or for this project contact Russell.rolph@voluntaryimpact.org.uk

Bank Counsellor / Therapist

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We Mind & Kelly Matters are looking to expand our current team of bank counsellors. This is a bank role working on an “as and when required” basis. The nature of Bank work is such that the hours of work, and number of clients will be at the Charity’s discretion and will depend on the number of referrals. We Mind & Kelly Matters does not guarantee to provide any minimum amount of work in any given week or month of the year. Bank staff also have the right to decline any hours offered.

Our main counselling work is providing one to one counselling and psychotherapy services for a range of mental health issues and bereavement grief work, predominantly after suicide. We Mind & Kelly Matters works hard to maintain a “no waiting list” policy. Clients referred wait no longer than 7-10 days to be allocated a counsellor and begin therapy. Support is free to all clients, following a clinical assessment. Sessions are open ended and are reviewed on an individual basis.

The service offers both face: face and online counselling, bank counsellors must be prepared to offer support in a setting agreed directly with the client, whether this is a client’s home, or a bank workers counselling base.

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

  • Diploma/Degree in Psychotherapy/Counselling and BACP/UKCP or similar registration
  • Minimum of 2 years’ experience post qualification
  • Experience of direct and online counselling work using Zoom/Teams or telephone work
  • To be flexible and adaptable, willing to respond quickly to organisational requests and client’s therapeutic needs in a changeable environment
  • Experience of working with clients bereaved by suicide, mental health, and complex grief
  • To contribute to regular reviews of clients with clinical lead
  • To maintain records of the client attendance and provide progress overview
  • To complete safety/crisis plans if appropriate and adhere to WM&KM safeguarding policies
  • To contribute positively to internal peer support supervision
  • To ensure professional and ethical practice is adhered to.
  • To be fully insured, have supervision in place and provide DBS and other relevant detailsIf you would like to discuss the position, please call/text on 07720 231660.
    If shortlisted, candidates will be required to attend an online interview. Please provide a CV and covering letter to sherry.adams@wemindandkellymatters.org.uk

type-of-funding

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