Voluntary and community sector

The Directorate works in partnership with many local voluntary and not-for-profit organisations (the third sector) to deliver high quality social care services for the people of Herefordshire.

The Council and the third sector are working together to achieve their shared aspiration of securing better public services and there is a commitment by the Council to continue involving the third sector organisations in the planning, design and commissioning of social care services.

This commitment ensures that the experience and distinctive contribution of third sector organisations can be captured at an early stage in the design of new social care services.

This endeavour is underpinned by the Directorate's partnerships with Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and Herefordshire Alliance.  The Alliance acts as:

• Point of contact, forum and voice for the sector on health and social care matters;
• Leads change in introducing standards in third sector organisations providing health and social care services; and
• Provides effective mechanisms for the public authorities to work constructively with the sector over health and social care matters.

The partners are pleased that as a first step they have published a 'Funding and Procurement Code of Good Practice' for health and social care services (a copy of this together with a summary version can be obtained by clicking on the link in the Resources Box below).  The Code sets ambitious goals for bringing about significant improvements in the funding arrangements between third sector organisations and their public sector funders including the Council.