A diversity of voices influencing Health & Social Care

Week-ending 26 November 2009

In this week’s issue:

1. National Voices news
2. Active minds
3. New information guide for young people
4. Socialist Health Association
5. COMRes Charity Awards
6. Ban on cigarette vending machines
7. Members' news
8. Consultation and involvement opportunities
9. Conferences and events
10. Vacancies

1. National Voices news
   • Dr Ade Adeagbo says farewell
     • Ade is leaving National Voices, having served as the Director of Organisational Development and Interim CEO. Ade took the organisation through design, development and exploratory phases. National Voices now has a new Board, a National Assembly representing constituents of the membership, an Advisory Panel and a Service User Panel. Working with a dedicated team, National Voices now has increased profile and positioning among policy-makers, practitioners and politicians, whilst also increasing its membership from 109 to 223. The organisation explored involvement in practice and produced reports on various areas such as meaningful involvement with: the BME community, culture, Travellers, Gypsy and Roma communities, carers and young children. All these were achieved with the support of some key partners and the hard work and dedication of a small staff team that believes strongly in the National Voices proposition. Ade believes that National Voices will continue to fly the flag for service users and the voluntary sector in influencing health and social care policy and practice. Ade will be spending the next few months working with the Community Alliance as a Chair to oversee the delivery of the £70m community builder fund, publish his book on change agency and visit Nigeria to refurbish an orphanage he has set up.
   • Culture and Involvement report
     • The Culture and Involvement report forms part of a wider body of work for National Voices which is attempting to formulate guidance and explore good practice on effective user involvement for policy-makers and service users in health and social care. The report is available to download.
2. Active Minds

   Peter Lyne (National Vice-President of the Disabled Motorists Federation) was recently contacted by a leading provider of structured training courses to help promote and conduct customised courses to suit the needs of both the individual and the business of which they are part of.

   The company's clients already include many organisations within the health and social care sectors, public services, the third sector and business and management.

   As a provider of training services, the company is accredited by many educational organisations including City and Guilds, the Institute of Leadership and Management and recently were regional winners of the Learndirect Achievement Awards.

   For further information and assistance you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call him on 07774 405734.

3. FORWARD launches new information guide for young people in the UK
   • The Foundation for Women’s Health and Research (FORWARD) is an NGO that works to advance and protect the sexual and reproductive health and human rights of African girls and women. FORWARD recently launched a guide on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) services and support, particularly aimed at young people and teachers. It tells in extremely plain language what FGM is, who is at risk, what to do if you suspect a girl is vulnerable and gives a list of support services that people can access. Click here to access the guide.
4. Socialist Health association
   • The Socialist Health association have organised three training sessions for members of Local Involvement Networks, and anyone else who might want to work with them, including Health Scrutiny Committees, Public and Patient Involvement staff and voluntary organisations. For more details of the material to be covered please visit their website.
5. COMRes Charity Awards
   • Here at National Voices we would like to congratulate all the Charities who won awards at the COMRes charity’s of the year awards. We would also like to give a special mention to our members who won the following awards:
     • Best Disability Charity: Mencap
     • Best Healthcare Charity: Cancer Research UK
     • Best Parliamentary Campaign: Macmillan
6. British Heart Foundation’s campaign for a full ban on cigarette vending machines
   • The BHF’s campaign for a full ban on cigarette vending machines has taken a huge leap forward, with the UK Government accepting the case for a full ban in England, and giving Wales and Northern Ireland the chance to vote for a full ban as well. In response Peter Hollins, Chief Executive of the BHF, said "Consigning vending machines to the scrapheap will cut off an easy supply of cigarettes to children” and "this policy must be carried out across the UK as soon as possible to stop the all-too-easy gateway to a lifetime addiction to cigarettes.” Read more about the campaign’s next steps here.
7. Members’ News
   • Betterdays launch redesigned website
     • Betterdays Cancer care, the only national African Caribbean breast cancer survivorship organisation, is pleased to announce the launch of the organisation's redesigned website.
8. Consultations and involvement opportunities
   • Age equality in health and social care consultation opens
     • To prepare health and social care services for new anti-age discrimination laws, the Government is calling for peoples’ views on the likely implications. For more information please visit the Department of Health’s website.
   • The General Pharmaceutical Council – Setting Standards – Proposals for Consultation
     • This consultation is being taken forward by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) as part of the standards development programme for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
     • The consultation will run from 21 Oct 2009 – 12 January 2010. For more information please visit the CHRE website.
9. Conferences and events
   • Multiculturalism vs. Integration
   • 2 December 2009, 3.00pm, London School of Economics, London
     • Should diversity be celebrated? Is multiculturalism racist? Is French president Nicholas Sarkozy right to ban the burqa? Does multiculturalism make Britain a better place, or are honour killings and domestic violence being ignored under the banner of 'cultural difference'? Renowned journalist and author of 'After Multiculturalism', Yasmin Alibhai-Brown examines possibly the greatest debate of modern Britain. For more information please visit Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations.
   • The Power of Partnership: End of Life Care for People with Dementia Conference
   • 10 December 2009, Regent’s College London
     • With keynote speaker, Phil Hope MP, Minister of State for Care Services; this partnership event between the National Council for Palliative Care, the NHS End of Life Care Programme, ‘for dementia’ and the Alzheimer’s Society will light the way forward for anyone involved in caring for people with dementia and provide valuable good practice examples.
     • This conference will:
       • Highlight the important issues for people with dementia nearing the end of their life
       • Discuss the policy context for the development of palliative and end of life care for people with dementia
       • Highlight the power of partnership working
       • Explore and share examples of best practice in palliative and end of life care from around the country
       • Create an opportunity to discuss some of the related ethical issues
       • Provide a valuable forum for people working in dementia care
     • For more information visit NCPC website or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
   • An invitation to a Learning Event: What information do people want about their medicines?
   • 15 December 2009, 12.30-4.30pm, Royal Society of Medicine, London
     • As three people with a long-standing commitment to helping people find and use health information. Melinda Letts, Joanne Rule and Jean Thompson are working together on a Learning Event to explore with Voluntary Health Organisations (VHOs) the question ‘What information do people want about their medicines?’
     • You’re invited to take part in the Learning Event, and to work together with other VHOs to research this question. VHOs already participating include Diabetes UK, MacMillan Cancer Support, Arthritis Care, amongst others.
     • To find out more and book your place, please go to www.medicines.org.uk
     • The event is hosted by the medicines information provider, Datapharm. If you have any questions, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone her on 01372 371411.
   • Patient Reported Outcome Measures
   • 21 January 2010, Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
     • This one day conference provides a practical guide to measuring and monitoring clinical outcomes using Patient Reported Outcome Measures. Through a series of presentations, you will hear from a variety of healthcare professionals on the developments in your area of practice and how we're moving forward from the National PROMs for the new conditions.
     • For more information please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her on 020 8541 1399. You can also visit the Healthcare Events website.
     • Download Brochure
   • Quality, Innovation Productivity and Prevention
   • Thursday 21st January 2010, 4 Hamilton Place, London
     • Through a series of presentations, this one day conference will provide delegates with valuable knowledge of QIPP including: leadership for QIPP, promoting innovation and benchmarking for QIPP, lean methodology and service transformation.
     • For more information please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her on 020 8541 1399. You can also visit the Healthcare Events website.
     • Download Brochure
   • Developing Quality Patient Information
   • Tuesday 26th January 2010, 76 Portland Place, London
     • This one day conference chaired by Mark Duman President Patient Information Forum (PiF) provides an opportunity for you to learn about the latest techniques and methods for writing and developing Patient Information that is accessible, understandable and personalised to patients as individuals on a day to day basis.
     • For more information please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her on 020 8541 1399. You can also visit the Healthcare Events website.
     • Download Brochure
   • EFGCP Annual Conference 2010
   • 26 - 27 January 2010, Brussels
     • The European Forum for Good Clinical Practice Annual Conference 2010 will be held on ‘Aspects of Personalised Medicine for Society - a Challenge Yet to be Met’ and we would like to open hereby the call for participation to this important conference.
     • Should this topic be of high interest to you and your organisation, please feel free to send a request for funded participation together with your motivated expression of interest at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 2 December 2009.
   • Annual Counsel and Care National Conference
   • 27 January, Inmarsat Conference Centre, London
     • The Annual Counsel and Care National Conference will be supported by The Department of Health, The Department of Work and Pensions, The Association of Directors of Social Services and the Improvement and Development Agency.
     • This conference will again attract a unique audience from top level decision-makers in local government and senior management leaders in health to examine the latest policy developments surrounding the nation’s social care service.
     • Sponsoring or exhibiting at this event will further establish your organisation’s leading position within this sector. To discuss these opportunities further please email me or contact me on 0207 324 4350.
     • For your consideration a delegate sample list can be found here and further details of the agenda can be viewed at http://www.neilstewartassociates.com/sh267
10. Vacancies
    • Parkinson’s Disease Society – Trustee Vacancy
      • Parkinson’s Disease Society are looking for someone who will help develop appropriate strategies and responses to social care issues and national policies. This person will have worked at a high level in social care, either in the statutory or voluntary sectors, or perhaps in a policy role.
      • As well as the core attributes you would expect in a trustee, in particular, we would welcome applications from people who:
        • Understand the interface between not-for-profit organisations and health and social care policy.
        • Have the ability to assimilate and understand policy and social care issues and to apply that to the objectives of the Parkinson’s Disease Society.
        • Will help us to translate the policies and issues in social care to people with Parkinson’s, their carers and medical and social care providers.
        • Have the ability to network within organisations relevant to the Society and to represent it.
      • If you feel you have the attributes we are looking for and you are interested in joining the Parkinson’s Disease Society Board, do please contact Tamara Cowan on 020 7931 8080 for further information. Closing date for applications is 1 December 2009.
    • Self management course assessors needed
      • 'The Quality Institute for Self Management Education and Training (QISMET) is looking for a number of freelance auditors to support its work in assessing providers of the Chronic Disease Self Management Programme in the West Midlands area against the Stepping Stones to Quality (Ss2Q) Framework. For more information please contact.' Carolyn Townsend Tel: 020 8892 3560. Mobile: 07710 306312