Four years ago, when Mid Essex CCG was first forming, it collaborated with Chelmsford CVS and the community and voluntary sector across Mid Essex to hold a meet and greet event to build relationships and showcase skills and services among voluntary groups that could support mainstream health and care. The event proved very successful.
Health and care across Essex is going through major reform and transformation and, after conversation with Healthwatch Essex and Chelmsford CVS earlier this year, it felt like a good time to get everyone back together to share plans and discuss the future.
On Friday 23 June 2017, a Summit was held at Chelmsford racecourse with two main aims:
- to showcase skills and services among the community and voluntary groups in mid Essex
- to explore how partners and providers can work better together and co-ordinate support for those most vulnerable in our local community
The event began with a networking and market-place opportunity where around 20 community and voluntary groups showcased services and shared information.
Presentations from the CCG; ECC, Barnados/Virgincare and CVS followed, giving attendees updates on plans for health, social care, 0-19 services across mid Essex and VCS future challenges.
The event culminated in themed tabletop discussions across five areas:
- volunteers under pressure
- new 0-19 approach
- locality approach in health and care
- winter pressures
- building resilience and empowering people
More than 90 people attended the afternoon event with representatives across the community and voluntary sector and CCG as well as ECC; Braintree district council; Chelmsford City Council, Provide CIC; MEHT; EPUT; Maldon District Council.
There was a real buzz in the room during the event and lots of ideas shared during discussion points.
