ANNUAL REPORT 2012/2013

WORKING IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Julie has also appreciated the invaluable help she has received from the communications department
within the Clinical Commissioning Group. They provided a link to BVSC’s Community Directory within
the GP zone and promoted it within their newsletters and staff bulletins as well as ensuring information
sheets Julie produced during the year listing services provided by the voluntary sector for cancer
care and helping to reduce isolation were widely circulated.
Another important piece of work for Julie was the Welfare Reform Group which began meeting at
the end of 2012 to try and anticipate some of the effects the changes to the benefits system would
bring. She produced a further information sheet on voluntary sector provision relating to welfare
benefits and debt advice and organised a briefing for the voluntary sector about these changes which
was delivered by Roland Haigh of Erith Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
Preventative and Partnership Fund
These two funds were brought together as the new Prevention and Early Intervention Fund and
commissioning undertaken by the newly-formed Integrated Commissioning Unit involving both LB of
Bexley and Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group. Although the Fund was not due to open for bids
until April, a series of workshops was organised to support groups with the process and gain feedback
from them as it progressed. Julie, together with Olwyn Sinclair, participated in these workshops
to outline the support available from BVSC.
Shadow Health & Well-being Board
As the shadow Board moved towards becoming ‘live’ in April 2013, the voluntary sector was pleased
that its place was confirmed and would be taken by the Chief Executive of BVSC.
Children & Young People’s Network
The Children & Young People’s Network met four times and agenda items included: Troubled Families;
Bexley’s Children and Young People’s Plan; changes to the Disclosure and Barring system; LB
Bexley’s Ofsted Inspection of Safeguarding; Meet the Funder - o2 Think Big; Managing Allegations;
and commissioning updates.
Becca compiled weekly e-bulletins with information on national and local developments and events,
funding, training, and resources.
Following elections at the Voluntary Forum in September, Becca continued to work with the elected
representatives who attended the Children & Young People’s Partnership Executive Board to ensure
information flows between the network as a whole and the Board. Becca also attended a number of
other multi-agency strategic meetings, including the Youth Strategy Partnership and sub-groups of
the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB).
Some highlights this year have included:
• The Safer Bexley Mark, a certificate awarded to groups by the LSCB for good safeguarding practice
following an assessment of evidence by Becca, has been used as a case study in a national
evaluation of the Safe Network conducted by the Charities Evaluation Service.
• Becca worked with Bexley’s Youth Strategy Partnership to develop a new action plan, taking into
account the contribution of the voluntary sector.
• She has also liaised with LB of Bexley’s Disabled Children’s Service to ensure groups are able to
participate in relevant meetings, and to help groups adapt to the personalisation agenda
• Together with LB of Bexley’s 14-19 team, Becca helped voluntary organisations to develop a partnership
bid for a project working with NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young
people. Also with LB of Bexley, the pan-London Project Oracle and voluntary organisations, Becca
helped to develop training and support around evidencing and measuring impact, which will be
delivered next year.