Health and social care
Social enterprises have been working in the field of health and social care for many years. Social enterprises in this field range from large primary care provider organisations such as Central Surrey Health to smaller more specialist enterprises such as Open Door.
Social enterprises share a commitment to the principles of mutualism, co-production and participation. As such they are well placed to play a key role in the future of health and social care.
Recent years have seen cross party support for social enterprises playing an increasingly prominent role in the health and social care landscape. In July 2010 the NHS White Paper: Equity and Excellence, Liberating the NHS and accompanying documents set out the aim to put patients at the heart of everything; focus on improving those things that really matter; and empowering and liberating staff. This set out a clear ambition for social enterprise within it.
Social Enterprise UK is keen to support the role of social enterprises delivering health and social care services. The current changes to the health and care sector present a number of opportunities and challenges that we are keen to respond to.
Health and Social Care Forum
The Health and Social Care Forum is the place where existing and aspiring social enterprises come together to share good practice, provide mutual support and hear about the latest developments in policy and practice.
Each forum is a half day event and includes a combination of key note speakers, practical sessions and considerable networking opportunities.
Details of forthcoming forums can be found here.
Consultations:
DoH consultation on Liberating the NHS: Regulating healthcare providers (October 2010)
DoH consultation on Liberating the NHS: Local Democratic Legitimacy in Health (October 2010)
DoH consultation on Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for Patients (October 2010)
DoH consultation on the NHS White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS (October 2010)
DoH consultation on the Health and Well-being Commissioning Framework (May 2007)
Position papers and publications:
Healthy Business: a guide to social enterprise in health and social care.
Social Enterprise Making a Difference: a guide to the Right to Request