Manchester Alliance for Community Care

Manchester Alcohol Strategy
Manchester health & Wellbeing Board is updating the city's strategy around alcohol. The key themes are:

A Volunteer Centre for Manchester at last!
MACC is delighted to announce that our new Volunteer Centre for Manchester is now open for business. This brings to an end the many years during which the city was without a generic volunteering agency linked to the national volunteering network.

Volunteer Centre Manchester will champion volunteering within the city and promote good practice to organisations which involve volunteers. The Centre is based in the MACC offices, part of the redevelopment of MACC as the lead infrastructure body for Manchester’s voluntary and community sector. Our intention is to achieve Volunteering England accreditation by completing Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation alongside other centres in Greater Manchester.

The arrival of the Volunteer Centre in Manchester comes as a result of a lot of hard work by individuals from various organisations, such as the GMCVO-based Volunteering Greater Manchester project, Greater Manchester Youth Network and Manchester Youth Volunteering Project (now closed).

The new service will redevelop the existing volunteering pages on the Manchester Community Central website and volunteering opportunities will be advertised widely across social media, Do-it.org and discussed in one-to-one interviews with potential volunteers.

Introductory volunteering sessions will also be offered to local people considering volunteering, and these events, plus outreach drop-in sessions, will be held at local community venues to allow potential volunteers to make informal enquiries and arrange one-to-one appointments.

If your organisation works in Manchester and involves volunteers, we would encourage you to register with the Volunteer Centre via the link below.

For further information about Volunteer Centre Manchester, contact:
Jen Halfpenny (Development Worker) jen@macc.org.uk
Mark Pritchard (Manager) mark@macc.org.uk
Telephone 0161 834 9823

Link: Volunteer Centre Manchester

Weekly Policy Update from Children's Services
Weekly Policy Update number 6 from Children's Services.

Download: weekly_policy_bulletin_no_6_05.pdf

Weekly Policy Update from Children's Services
This is the fifith weekly Policy Update from children's Services.

Download: weekly_policy_bulletin_no_5_19.pdf

Weekly Policy Update from Children's Services
This is the fourth weekly Policy Update from Children's Services.

Download: weekly_policy_bulletin_no_4_13.pdf

Weekly Policy Update from Children's Services
This is the third weekly Policy Update from Children's Services.

Download: weekly_policy_bulletin_cs_no_3_28.pdf

Weekly Policy Update from Children's Services
This is the second weekly Policy Update from Children's Services.

Download: weekly_policy_bulletin_no_2.pdf

Weekly Policy Update from Children's Services
This is the first trial weekly Policy Update from Children's Services.

Download: weekly_policy_bulletin_trial.pdf

Policy Updates 5
Please find a link below that opens up a copy of Policy Updates 5 from Manchester City Council around Childre and Families work

If you would like any further information get in touch with Julie Wilkes
Policy Officer, Commissioning & Service Improvement,
j.wilkes@manchester.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 234 7860

Download: policy_update_issue_5.doc

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Children & Young People 2011
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Children & Families 2011 sets out the priorities when working around children, young people and families. Click on the document below to view these priorities.

Download: joint_strategic_needs_assessment_for_children_&_young_people.pdf

Munro Review Briefing Paper
In June 2010, the government announced a national review of child protection, to be led by Eileen Munro, Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and a prominent academic in the field of safeguarding and child protection.

The briefing paper attached analyses the key recommendations and questions for the voluntary sector.

There will be another paper highlighting some of the likely changes to social work practice in light of the governments response but if you would like to read the full response it can be found here:

http://www.education.gov.uk/munroreview/

Download: munro_briefing.pdf

New Manchester Safeguarding Childrens Training Brochure
The new training programme for MSCB courses running from October 2011 up to and including March 2012 is now available to view on the MSCB website http://www.manchesterscb.org.uk.
The brochure can be accessed via the section for 'professionals' on the website.

Attached is a pdf version of the brochure. Bookings are now being taken for all courses up to January 2012 using the application form attached to the end of the brochure.

For courses that are delivered from January 2012 applications will be made through the new training website. Details of this can be found in the brochure and on the MSCB website. Courses will be uploaded onto the new training website in the coming months.

Please note that there are still places available on courses running in September 2011 and these can also be found on the MSCB website.

For any further queries please contact:
Joanne Horton | Multi Agency Training Officer
Manchester Safeguarding Children Board
Overseas House – 2nd Floor
Quay Street
Manchester
M3 3BB
Tel:        0161 234 7235
Fax:        0161 274 7075
Email:    j.horton@manchester.gov.uk
Web:     http://www.manchesterscb.org.uk

Download: pdf_brochure_oct-mar_12.pdf

Public Health in Manchester
Below is an update we've received from David Regan, Director of Public Health about the changes to the Public Health services in Manchester. As previously announced, public health functions will soon move into the City Council. Click on the link to download the letter (PDF).

Download: public_health_transformation.pdf

The Joint Commissioning Board and the Greater Manchester Cluster
New governance arrangements have been put in place for NHS Manchester joint commissioning of mental health, childrens, prisons and other specialist services.

the attached document explains the role, purpose, membership and accountability for these arrangements and includes a map outlining the links between the different groups. It might be helpful to think of the GP consortia and the joint commissioning management board as equivalent to the old PCT and; The Greater Manchester Cluster ss equivalent to the Strategic Health Authority

Download: the_joint_commissioning_board_and_the_greater_manchester_cluster.doc

Give your feedback on NHS Manchester plans for urgent care
Local GPs and NHS Manchester have developed plans to transform arrangements for urgent medical care in Manchester: http://www.manchester.nhs.uk/talkinghealth/

Please find attached a document for you to read about the current arrangements and plans to improve them to better meet the needs of Manchester patients. They want your thoughts and opinions - good and bad - about this because these changes are important and could affect you.
Please promote this to your friends, neighbours, service users, members of staff or stakeholders.
You can let them know what you think by filling in their survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UrgentCareMCR

Download: our_plans_for_urgent_care.pdf

Policy Updates 4
Please find below link that opens up a copy of Policy Updates 4 from Manchester City Council around Children and Families work.

If you would like any further information get in touch with Julie Wilkes
Policy Officer, Commissioning & Service Improvement,
j.wilkes@manchester.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 234 7860

Download: policy_update_issue_4.doc

Safeguarding Children Training Programme
The link below opens up the training schedule from Manchester Safeguarding Children's Board from April 2011 - September 2011.

Download: mscb_training_brochure_april_-_september_2011.pdf

What is a GP Commissioning Consortia Pathfinder?
From April 2013, it is planned that GP commissioning consortia will become the new NHS commissioners of healthcare. A pathfinder programme has been initiated to invite emerging consortia to begin development from January this year. For more information on Manchester's Pathfinder see the summary below produced by NHS Manchester

Download: communication_and_development_-_summary_(3).doc

Equalities Duties Review
As part of it's 'Red Tape Challenge' the Government has launched a consultation to review the duties of public sector bodies under the 2010 Equalities Act. MACC is concerned that some hard-won legal protections for minority groups could be at risk of being dismantled when they have only just come into force: the description of this as an issue of "bureaucracy" rather than social justice is in itself disturbing. As with the consultation on the duties of Local Authorities (see the item below) we encourage all local VCS organisations to respond to the consultation. Click on the link below for more information and to find out how to respond.

Link: Equalities Duties Review

Review of Local Authority Duties
Central Government is conducting a review of the statutory responsibilities placed on Local Authorities - including things such as the duty to carry out community care assessments, carers assessments, investigating suspicions about children who are vulnerable or at risk.

MACC strongly believes that this consultation puts up for question some of the essential rights for the most vulnerable people in society These rights must be clearly stated and easily enacted by individuals and those who support them. We encourage everyone to submit a response to this consultation.

The deadline for responses is 25th April - all the details are available on the links below. The "webform" link enables you to respond and comment on specific duties.

Link: DCLG Consultation
Link: DCLG

Voluntary Sector Cuts
A number of national bodies including NAVCA, NCVO, Volunteering England, Compact Voice and Voluntary Sector North West have launched a website to gather information about cuts being made to voluntary and community sector organisations across England. All groups are asked to supply some basic details of the cuts and the impact it will have on the provision of services and activities.

It's important to note that the information once uploaded is publicly available - read the "about" section for details.

MACC wishes to encourage all local groups to record their funding cuts on this site - it's important that public sector decision makers can be shown evidence of the impact of the decisions being made across the various funding bodies.

If your organisation is facing cuts and needs support in planning and managing, you can contact Manchester Community Central for useful information and support.

Link: Voluntary Sector Cuts website
Link: Manchester Community Central

Strategic Lead Update October 2010
Strategic Lead Update for October 2010 is offered in the format of a report to the Children's Board. Please see attached link.

Download: strategic_lead_report_october_2010.pdf

Policy Updates 3
It has been agreed that through the time of constant change Children’s Services will send out policy updates every 6-8 weeks. I will distribute these to the network and they will be available on our website by the end of the week. This update is issue number 3.

If you would like any further information get in touch with Julie Wilkes
Policy Officer, Commissioning & Service Improvement,
j.wilkes@manchester.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 234 7860

Download: policy_update_issue_3.pdf

Public sector bodies in Manchester have now completed the "Locality Joint Strategic Needs Assessments". These are documents which pulls together everything which is known about the needs of communities in the North, Central and South parts of Manchester in, for example, areas such as public health. They are produced by the local NHS and City Council Departments including social care and children's services. Evidence from the JSNAs should inform how services are planned and delivered in all these areas. Each also includes a "ward fact sheet" which can be downloaded separately from the Council website.

All this is useful stuff for local voluntary groups in seeing how they fit with or could add to tackling local needs - and is a good source evidence when putting funding applications together.

Policy Updates
It has been agreed that through the time of constant change Children’s Services will send out policy updates every 6-8 weeks. I will distribute these to the network and they will be available on our website by the end of the week. This update is issue number 2, issue 1 will be available on the website as soon as possible.

If you would like any further information get in touch with Julie Wilkes
Policy Officer, Commissioning & Service Improvement,
j.wilkes@manchester.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 234 7860

Download: policy_update_issue_2.pdf

Strategic Lead Update May 2010
The document below is a short update into our strategic engagement work on your behalf in the last couple of months. It has been shared with the Child & Family Support Forum and the Strategic Reference Group. It is very important that our work is guided by what you are experiencing and thinking and so we would encourage you to attend the Child & Family Support Forum Meetings here or contact us directly. I look forward to hearing from you.

Nicola Shanahan - Strategic Lead Children & Families
Tel: 0161 834 9823 or email: nicola@macc.org.uk

Download: children_&_families_strategic_lead_update_may_2010.pdf

Queen's Speech 2010
Written by the government and delivered by the reigning monarch, the Queen's Speech sets out the legislative agenda for the year ahead and is the centrepiece of the state opening of Parliament. The Queen's speech took place on 25th May 2010, where it outlined the new coalition Government's legislative agenda for the next 18 months. In the speech, the Queen covered 23 Bills and one draft Bill proposed by the new administration.

Download: queen's_speech_-_may_2010.pdf

Children Young People and Families Strategic Lead Update
The attached document is a short update into our strategic engagement work on your behalf in the last couple of months. It has been shared with the Child and Family Support Forum and Strategic Reference Group. It is very important that our work is guided by what you are experiencing and thinking and so we would encourage you to attend the Child and Family Support Forum meetings here or contact us directly.

Download: 2010_02_02_vcs_children_young_people_and_families_strategic_lead_update.pdf

The Think Family Strategy
The Think Family Strategy is based on the assumption that in Manchester, all partners delivering services from universal to targeted, working with either individual family members or groups of family members will expect their staff to adopt a whole family, holistic approach to all of their customers. We want to make life easier for families and so create a community where it is much simpler to have aspirations.

We want to consider as partners how we might articulate the roles, competencies and skills of workers across the city and consider the range of outcomes across the continuum of needs that we would want this work to achieve.

The Think Family Strategy intends to provide a challenge to all partnership strategies in the City; are our services meeting the needs of the whole family? Are we confident that we currently “think about families” when we design and commission services? How we do evidence we do this? How can we improve our performance in this area? How will we measure this success?

In order to take this forward, we have worked with key colleagues to develop a Draft Think Family Strategy for Manchester. This will be issued in January 2010 and will be available for consultation for a period of 3 months.

Consultation Process
The Consultation will begin on Monday 4 January until Wednesday 31 March 2010. Consultation responses can be made using the Consultation Questionnaire (Appendix 1 of the Draft Strategy), send by

Email: familystrategy@manchester.gov.uk

Post: Family Strategy Team, C/O Martyn Buonocore, Manchester City Council, 2nd Floor, Overseas House, Quay Street, Manchester M3 3BB

For further information please Call: Martyn Buonocore (Project Manager) - 0161 234 8092 or Shirley Woods Gallagher (Head of Think Family) - 0161 234 7162.

Download: 2010_13_manchesters_think_family_strategy.pdf

Direct to Midwife in Greater Manchester
As soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant, it is a choice to contact their midwife direct. It could speed up access to maternity care and is a great start for mum & baby. Direct to Midwife is a telephone service available to all women in Greater Manchester on 0800 121 4400.

Download: direct_to_midwife_campaign.pdf

Children, Young People & Families Third Sector Strategy
In 2007 the Local Government Performance Management Framework set out a new indicator (NI7) to measure the "environment for a thriving third sector". With this in mind, the Child & Family Support Forum (CFSF), in collaboration with Voluntary Youth Manchester, have undertaken to produce a children, young people and families Third Sector Strategy for Manchester. This strategy has been written in consultation with members of the CFSF. If you would like to contribute your comments, please download the document (below) and send your views to maccoffice@macc.org.uk by Monday 2nd November 2009.

Download: 2009_11_enabling_manchesters_children_young_people_and_families_third_sector_to_thrive.pdf

Report on Small Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations
Children England (previously known as NCCVO) have produced a new report entitled Small Change - a survey about experiences of engaging with government initiatives, the impact of funding changes and the move to commissioning and the role in influencing strategic decision making.
Children England

Download: children_england_survey_report_small_change.pdf

Somebody Else's Child campaign
Do you know someone who is caring for somebody else’s child? If it’s for more than 28 days, they must notify their local council. Failure to do so is a criminal offence. Research released by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering reveals that nearly a quarter (22%) of people would miss a clear sign that a child may be at risk. Key findings are that:

Free Resource - Gun, Gang and Knife Crime Prevention
Streetwise is a new crime prevention resource which aims to educate children and young people about the dangers of gun, gang and knife crime. For a FREE demo to view the resource please contact the Streetwise Team now. The presentation will take 30 minutes; following this you can view the Streetwise resource. To make a booking contact Mo Sarfraz saf@streetwiseinfo.co.uk or call 01484 314815.
Link: Streetwise

NHS Manchester Commissioning Strategic Plan
On 26th November, NHS Manchester launched their first Commissioning Strategic Plan - this essentially sets out the big priorities for the local NHS over the next 5 years. These are at first glance unsurprising - life expectancy, reducing under 18 pregnancy, tackling childhood obesity, etc, - but the fact that these have now taken centre stage in the Primary Care Trust's plans and budgeting is a considerable shift towards a preventative health economy. The full document is now available on the NHS Manchester Website and includes some interesting initial observations about the need to engage local voluntary sector organisations in the delivery of these preventative services.
Link: NHS Manchester Commissioning Strategic Plan

Workforce Development Strategy
The Manchester Children's Workforce Strategy covers the public, private and voluntary sectors and there is now an opportunity to give feedback on the latest draft. It can be downloaded from the link below. Please feed your comments back to Ross Grant at Voluntary Youth Manchester.
Email: voluntaryyouthmanchester@googlemail.com or call him on 0161 832 0169
Link: Manchester Children's Workforce Development Strategy
Link: Workforce Development

CRB Checks for Volunteers
In June 2008, the Office of the Third Sector released guidance to make clear what groups using volunteers need to do about Criminal Records Bureau checks. This is intended as a reply to concerns that some volunteers are being put off by the CRB check process. Obviously, organisations do need to manage risks in people doing voluntary work with children or vulnerable adults and there are some legal requirements but this new guidance tries to explain where a formal CRB check fits with other steps such as interviewing, training and getting references.
Link: Guidance on CRB Checks for Volunteers (pdf)
Link: Criminal Records Bureau