The Department of Health is consulting on ‘Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care’.

The aim is to
* raise the esteem and profile of volunteering;
* help improve management and support for volunteers;
* support more robust evaluation of the outcomes and benefits of volunteering; and
* allow more coherent investment to support their involvement.

The consultation runs to 30th September, working towards a final strategy and implementation plan in early 2009. See the documents available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/DH_085186.

The Expert Patients Programme CIC is conducting research to build up an accurate picture of training currently available to carers, as part of the Department of Health scheme to develop an expert carers programme.

An online survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=IrLlFj4_2b0HgJifD_2fxpopUQ_3d_3d.

Newly published from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is ‘Promoting physical activity in the workplace’ guidance for employers and professionals in any size organisation who have a direct or indirect role in improving health at work.

Go to http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=byID&o=11981.

The debate on England’s care and support system that was launched recently by the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary has a dedicated web site at http://www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk.

It raises and explains issues around how we can improve, provide and pay for care and support in the future and encourages people to comment online.

The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment is to investigate the role and barriers to development of Credit Unions as its first inquiry.

See CommunityNI news item
http://www.communityni.org/index.cfm/section/news/key/140508_credit_unions, submissions by 13th June.

The Shaw Trust has created a web site to provide information and advice on how to support staff who are dealing with mental health issues.

Looks like a useful resource for managers and personnel departments: http://www.tacklementalhealth.org.uk.

NOMS, the National Offender Management Services, has launched its online directory of providers and provider services, the National Provider Network. Organisations either currently providing, or interested in providing, offender intervention services can register and raise their profile with commissioners.

See
http://www.noms.justice.gov.uk/about-us/working-with-partners/service-providers/NPN/.

(Source: FaithAction Newsletter)

A second round of the Department of Health’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund has been announced.

It has £11 million capital and £6 million revenue funding available to support the development of social enterprises in health and social care such as women’s refuges, migraine clinics and exercise programmes for the elderly. Submissions required by 31st July.

Alongside this is an ‘Innovation for Life Challenge Fund’, of up to £100,000 for local health and social care commissioners and their partners which come up with innovative ways of using social enterprise solutions to meet local health and well-being challenges and to tackle health inequalities.

Links to both the above via DH Social Enterprise page.

Parenting charity Parentline Plus has set up a dedicated site for professionals that work with children and families.

As well as providing a central virtual space for all of the charity’s policy work there are other features such as social networking. See http://www.parentlineplus.org.uk/forprofessionals.

(Source: Children and Young People Now)

The large historical image archive built up since the 1870s by Barnardo’s is to be made available in digital format.

Picture library TopFoto.co.uk will initially scan 150,000 images and selected material will be licensed to earn income for the charity.

http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=9957

A report from Senscot showcases the activity of social enterprises through 14 examples from Scotland and 5 from England, to promote this model in delivering good quality health and social care services. Some common threads are identified.

Download pdf (265KB) via http://www.senscot.net/view_res.php?viewid=7155.

Resources for mentoring and befriending programmes on drugs-related issues have been produced to provide essential guidance and offer advice on the most effective methods of assisting young people. Created by FRANK and Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, there are materials for volunteers and co-ordinators.

Find at MBF publications page, http://www.mandbf.org.uk/resources/publications/.