Council and voluntary sector working closer to meet needs of local people

On Friday 8 July, Shropshire VCS Assembly held the first in a series of new workshops to determine how Shropshire’s Voluntary and Community Sector can better work with Shropshire Council and other public sector partners to meet the needs of local people. The workshop covered a number of topics but paid particular attention to the national and local transformation of adult social care.

A new initiative named Live Life: Your Way has recently been launched and is deemed to be the most comprehensive consultation exercises that Shropshire Council has ever carried out for Adult Social Care. It aims to facilitate discussion with individuals, groups and local services to establish a new, shared vision for the delivery of adult social care in Shropshire that will form the foundation for the way services are delivered in the future. 

The views, ideas and experiences from the adult social care community, carers, Shropshire’s voluntary and community sector groups and organisations will be instrumental in shaping this vision and our strongly encourage to attend the Live Life: Your Way events at:

• Shrewsbury Town Football Club – 29 July – 9:30 – 12:00
• The Marches School, Oswestry – 4 August – 1:30 – 4:00
• Bridgnorth Leisure Centre – 18 August – 1:30 – 4:00
• Whitchurch Leisure Centre – 22 August 1:30 – 4:00
• Ludlow Food Centre – 24 August – 1:30 – 4:00
• Feedback Event – Council Chamber, Shirehall, Shrewsbury – 23 September – 9:30 – 12:00

Friday’s workshop resulted in a significant number of action points for joint implementation and demonstrated Shropshire Council’s commitment to work with others to explore new ideas and ways of working.

Cllr Gwilym Butler, Portfolio holder for Flourishing Shropshire Communities, said:

“This is the start of a new era, community governance is changing and the voluntary sector, town and parish councils and Shropshire Council’s elected members need to be united in delivering support for their communities. The event on Friday was the first of a series actively designed to take steps towards forming new relationships and collaboratively delivering change.”

Sonia Roberts, Chair of the VCS Assembly commented:

“In response to ever changing priorities, expectations and uncertainties affecting the sector the VCSA recognises that collaborative working is a key public expectation and is part of our vision. We are engaging effectively with public sector partners to share information in a timely manner that allows the sector to inform and influence the way in which services are provided. Having recently taken on the position of Chair of the VCS Assembly I am determined to present as many opportunities as possible for local voluntary and community groups to partake in informed discussion that will influence the way we work and the issues we act on.”

Speakers at the event included Dr Kevin Lewis, Public Health, Valerie Beint (Corporate Director of Health & Care), Ruth Houghton (Service Manager, Service Development , Assessment and Eligibility Team) and Sarah Dillon (Self Directed Support Lead) from Shropshire Council. An innovative case study from Sandwell was also included amongst the presentations, highlighting how the voluntary sector can deliver new and exciting adult social care services.

One of the event’s participants, Jackie Jeffrey of Citizen’s Advice Shropshire said:

“The day was enlightening. I can now go back to my organisation and explain to staff and trustees how we can get involved and how we can influence changing policy. We are now more aware of how circumstances and needs are likely to impact on our services and the people who use them.”

For more information about consultation events on the Transformation of Adult Social Care, Live Life: Your Way please visit our website http://shropshire.gov.uk/livelifeyourway.nsf or you can contact us by the following means:
Email: livelifeyourway@shropshire.gov.uk.
Phone: 0345 678 9005.
Facebook: Go to www.facebook.com and search for: Shropshire:livelfeyourway
Twitter: Go to www.twitter.com and search for: @livelifeyourway

Live Life – Your Way
Shropshire Council
Assessment & Eligibility
Ptarmigan
Sitka Drive
Shrewsbury Business Park
Shrewsbury
SY2 6LG
For more information about the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly contact Sarah Dodds telephone 01743 252740, email: sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk.