This just in from the IW NHS. We thought it would be of interest to many of our readers. Ed
Secretary of State for Health approves Island’s ‘Right to Request’ application.
It was announced yesterday, Tuesday 16th November, that Learning Disability Services on the Island are one of 32 National Health Service organisations that will join the Department of Health’s ‘Right to Request’ social enterprise scheme.
The thirty-two projects, including the Isle of Wight, will form the third wave of NHS organisations that want to set up social enterprises, through the NHS ‘Right to Request’ scheme that gives public sector workers the opportunity to become their own bosses.
Supporting social enterprise
Unveiling the third wave proposals, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley also announced that additional funding will be made available through the Department’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund.
This money will support the successful Right to Request schemes and encourage others who wish to become social enterprises.
By becoming social enterprises, clinical staff gain the freedom to make their own decisions about the services they deliver locally, allowing them to be more responsive to their patients’ needs. Across England there are now a total of 61 innovative proposals from staff to take over the services they provide.
Island care centres
Currently NHS day services operating from Meadowbrook and the Medina Centre cater for a wide range of individuals with different needs and abilities.
The service at Meadowbrook, subject to the changes already announced, will continue to do this.
Samantha Whittingham, Team Leader at the Medina Centre says, “We want the freedom to provide services that both our clients and their relatives want. As a Social Enterprise we will be tailoring our services to meet the needs of the most profoundly disabled customer as well as those who require minimal support. Using a Person Centred approach, we will create a service driven by the needs and desires of the customer. We believe we can offer services that individuals will want to use their personal budgets for and we will be responsive to their needs.”
Community focused service
At present the services on offer are based at both Meadowbrook in Ryde and the Medina Centre in Newport.
Whilst the Medina Centre will be closing by May 2011, Meadowbrook is being refurbished and over time it is expected that services will become less ‘building focused’ and more focused in the community. Initially the new service would be set up as a ‘hub and spoke’ model with the main centre being based at the current Meadowbrook site in Ryde with other services located in community settings at other points around the island. The new service is likely to have 19 staff and a turnover of around £500,000.
Meadowbrook to offer more
It is expected that the following services will be developed at Meadowbrook – the building will be used as the heart of the service.
Activities that will be on offer from there will be those things that are unavailable elsewhere including physiotherapy, music therapy, massage and relaxation, as well as being a meeting point where individuals can socialise with their friends.
As a number of services for individuals with profound and multiple disabilities will be provided from here there will be limited space in the building therefore we aim to utilise outbuildings currently located at Medina Centre for an art room and sensory room. If this is a success the service hopes to expand with allotment / gardening, woodwork and cooking services.
It is the intention that the new service will work along side other providers (Haylands Farm, The Greenhouse/Osel Enterprises and Riverside Centre) to provide a complete package for individuals, with staff supporting service users to access activities within these locations.
Positive step forward
NHS Isle of Wight Director, Mark Price, comments: “This is a positive step forward for Learning Disability Services on the Island. NHS Isle of Wight has actively supported this ‘Right to Request’ scheme and the expression of interest from the service. We will now be supporting the development of a viable business case so that the proposed service can be developed further. There are strong indications from those who currently use the services that they will be prepared to spend their Personal Budgets with the new service. This is welcome and staff will be working hard to ensure they meet the needs of those service users and their families.”
Announcing the 32 schemes Secretary of State, Andrew Lansley said: “I am encouraged by the enthusiasm with which NHS frontline staff have embraced the ‘Right to Request’ scheme. This represents a major milestone in the delivery of the White Paper commitment to create the largest and most vibrant social enterprise sector in the world. We want to empower millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them to deliver better services. This is about a fundamental power shift, taking power from Whitehall and placing it in the hands of frontline staff who know best the needs of their communities. This is what the Big Society is all about.”
Image: Valerie Everett under CC BY 2.0
