Third Sector Assembly Meeting 11 th December 2012 Healthwatch Birmingham Development

Introduction – What is Healthwatch? Healthwatch will be the new consumer champion for both health and social care. It will exist in two distinct forms – local Healthwatch, at a local level, and Healthwatch England at a national level. BVSC is leading on the development of local Healthwatch for Birmingham, ensuring that there is an effective organisation established and ready to operate from 1 st April 2013.

Healthwatch’s Functions 1.Gathering views and understanding the experiences of patients and the public 2.Making people’s views known 3.Promoting and supporting the involvement of people in the commissioning and provision of local care services and how they are scrutinized.

Healthwatch’s Functions 4. Recommending investigation or special review of services via Healthwatch England or directly to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 5. Providing advice and information (sign-posting) about access to services and support for making informed choices

Healthwatch’s Functions 6. Making the views and experiences of people known to Healthwatch England (and to other local Healthwatch organisations) and providing a steer to help it carry out its role as a national champion. 7. NHS Complaints Advocacy (Healthwatch Birmingham will not initially be responsible for NHS Complaints Advocacy, the Local Authority are making alternative arrangements)

Developing Local Healthwatch BVSC will: Develop a successful delivery model for HW Develop a robust Governance structure Establish a Business Plan, identifying key priorities in preparation for the commencement of HW Birmingham Further develop relationships with key stakeholders Lead on recruitment to the organisation

Developing Local Healthwatch Factors that need to be taken into consideration for the development of a successful HW org in Birmingham: Strong leadership and governance, with a board focused on running the organisation opposed to delivering the functions Effective and efficient collection, and analysis/interpretation of data to inform health and social care improvements locally

Developing Local Healthwatch Clear relationship between HW and the wider Voluntary & Community Sector in Birmingham Clear conduits and pathways for sharing information to be developed (including through existing and new networks) Potential to build on the “one stop shop” idea Strong and successful consumer voice To work as a network of networks

Developing Local Healthwatch BVSC will be speaking to key stakeholders to gather opinions on how Healthwatch should be structured and governed, as well as what Healthwatch should prioritise and how it can deliver its seven functions. On Monday 17 th December, we will be launching an online survey to gather opinions from key stakeholders. We are also looking to host focus groups with interested parties.

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