VSNW convened a roundtable last week with the head of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan, Louise Shepherd, and VCSE sector representatives from across the region. The STP is the strategic plan for health and social care across the whole of Merseyside, Cheshire and Warrington from 2017 to 2021, building on NHS England’s Five Year Forward View. The plan aims to develop out of hospital care and improve prevention, increase the quality of hospital care, reduce costs and improve partnership working to deliver transformation.

It was clear at the roundtable that there are several ways that the sector can offer answers to improving health and wellbeing, including leadership and co-design opportunities, educating people about the depth and breadth of VCFSE expertise, effecting cultural change, and supporting sector involvement in the Integrated Care Partnership. Warren Escadale attended the inaugural meeting of the System Leadership Board.