VS Health and Social Care Forum

The Voluntary Sector Health & Social Care Forum has been established since 1993. Since that time the remit and focus of the Forum has adapted and changed to reflect the changes in structure in the health services and the Local Authority Social Services. 

The Forum currently aims to:

• Offer voluntary sector groups whose work involves health and social care the opportunity to come together to discuss the planning, provision and management of health and social care services in Shropshire.
•  Develop close links between the voluntary sector and statutory partners involved in Health and Social Care to ensure that the voluntary sector groups are well informed about local, regional and national policy and how these will affect people in Shropshire.
• Support and develop mechanisms to ensure information exchange between the voluntary and statutory sectors and to enable voluntary sector groups to have an effective voice at appropriate decision-making opportunities.

Membership of the Forum is open to representatives from voluntary sector organisations, whose work involves health and social care and there is no formal membership procedure or subscription. Relevant organisations may send a representative to meetings but if organisations are not able to attend they may also ask to be put on the mailing list to receive agendas, minutes and training opportunities, as well as information about consultations and other initiatives underway in the health or social care sector.

The Forum meets at least six times a year for two hour meetings and networking.  There is a standing invitation for senior representatives of Shropshire Council and the Primary Care Trust to attend and other guest speakers are invited. 

 A member of the Forum is elected to serve as a member of the Voluntary Sector Assembly Board.  Members of the Forum are also invited to represent the sector and the forum on outside bodies, each request being considered on its own merits.  Representation includes attending Forum meetings on a regular basis to report back to the Forum, to raise issues and to seek the views of Forum members. Other work undertaken by the Forum has been a long-standing interest in the development of a Compact for Shropshire (the Forum developed the original Compact some 8 years ago).

 Secretariat is provided by the Community Council of Shropshire.  Anyone interested in finding out more, or joining the Forum should contact the Community Council on 01743 360641 or email: enquiries@shropshire-rcc.org.uk.