Creating collaborations: Sharing learning from research, policy and practice to strengthen VCSE and health and care commissioning

This event is free to attend but places must be booked in advance by registering above.

The National Health Service (NHS) and local governments regularly commission voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver health and care services. Whilst this offers considerable opportunities, it can often be challenging for VCSE organisations and commissioners alike.

The aim of this one-day conference is to strength collaborative relationships between VCSE and health and care commissioners through sharing insights and learning from research, policy and practice. Together, we hope to help shape the future of VCSE and health and care commissioning relationships.

This event is being delivered in conjunction with Bayes Business School, National Voices, NAVCA, NHS England, University of Birmingham, and University of Plymouth.

About the Event

The National Health Service (NHS) and local governments regularly commission voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver health and care services. Whilst this offers considerable opportunities, it can often be challenging for VCSE organisations and commissioners alike. Changes during the pandemic, along with the development of Integrated Care Systems, a push towards prevention, and a desire to tackle health inequalities, all offer the potential to reset relationships, realising much wider roles for the VCSE and more collaborative ways of working. There is much to learn from current research, policy and practice developments to help strengthen VCSE and health and care commissioning relationships.

This one-day conference will bring together health and care commissioners, VCSE leaders, policy makers, academics, and wider stakeholders. It will mark the launch of findings from a three-year National Institute for Health Research-funded study into the VCSE and health and care commissioning relationships (NIHR Health Services Delivery Research programme, grant NIHR 128107). The aim of the workshop is to strength collaborative relationships between VCSE and health and care commissioners through sharing insights and learning from research, policy and practice. Together, we hope to help shape the future of VCSE and health and care commissioning relationships.

Event programme

Please note that the below is a draft programme, and is subject to change.

10:30 Arrival, with refreshments

10:50 Welcome and introductions

11:00 What’s the expectation? Insights from policy

11:30 What’s the experience? Insights from practice

12:00 Break

12:15 What’s the evidence? Insights from research

13:15 Lunch

14:15 So, what’s next? From insights to actions

15:30 Conclusion