Job Opportunity: CLES

The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) is the UK’s leading independent charitable research and member organisation, with a focus on local economic development, regeneration and place-making. They think and do – promoting action and implementing new progressive economic activities which create positive environmental, health and social outcomes. In all their work the relationship between place, economy and people is central. 

As a Senior Researcher, you will play a role in identifying new policy ideas and business opportunities through developing relationships and engaging with their membership base. You will play a key role in delivering policy advice, research and consultancy assignments to a high standard as well as implementing activities. This will involve using qualitative and quantitative research techniques such as undertaking interviews, facilitating discussion groups, administering surveys, and analysing secondary data; and you will contribute to the development of relevant recommendations. In addition you will help produce policy publications and will deliver bespoke training and membership seminars.

You will have three to five years’ experience of a policy/research/consultancy environment, preferably with a think tank, local authority or other public sector agency, voluntary and community sector organisation, or consultancy. You will have experience of developing relationships with a range of stakeholders across the public, commercial and social sectors and managing research and policy work. You will be self motivated, enthusiastic, up for creative thinking and keen on making a positive difference to local places and society. The role is an opportunity to work in a unique and innovative environment.

The salary for the role is £25k - £30k, dependant on experience, and is based in Manchester. 

Senior Researcher Job Description June 16

Senior Researcher Person Specification

To apply, please submit a CV and full cover letter to:

Laura Symonds
Office Manager
CLES
Express Networks
1 George Leigh Street
Manchester M4 5DL

T: 0161 236 7036

E: laurasymonds@cles.org.uk

As part of their equality, diversity and inclusion policy, they are committed to name blind recruitment. To enable them to do this, please send your documents as word files rather than pdf. 

For an informal and confidential discussion about the post, please contact Neil McInroy, Chief Executive of CLES on 0161 236 7036.

Realising the Value Update

Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a member, has been part of a consortium working with NHS England, Nesta, Health Foundation, Behavioural Insights Team and 5 VCSE partner sites on a project to evidence the value of different approaches to person centred care and to find ways to encourage greater use and uptake. The project was hugely ambitious and complicated, and has met with some challenges over the past 18 months, but findings are starting to emerge and a project update is now available.

In preparation for a working day with commissioners, Nesta has produced an update of progress and next steps in the different workstreams. It is in the form of a ‘storybook’ which gives you an ‘in a nutshell’ overview of each of the workstreams: what they are about, who the products are aimed at, learning and next steps. The workstreams detailed in the storybook are:

·  Work with local partner sites and communities of interest (led by sites with Voluntary Voices)
·  Supporting culture change, underpinned by behavioural insights, for both health and care professionals, and individuals and communities (led by the Behavioural Insights Team)
·  Valuing the contributions of people and communities in health and care (led by Voluntary Voices)
·  Assessing system change levers and drivers (led by the Health Foundation)
·  Developing an evidence-based economic model and tools for commissioners (led by PPL)
·  At the heart of health (led by Health Foundation/Nesta)

Link - Realising the Value storybook

People and Communities Board - Six principles for engaging people and communities

These six principles were developed by the People and Communities Board, one of the Five Year Forwrad View programme boards, in conjunction with the new models of care ‘vanguards’ sites, to give practical support to services as they deliver the ‘new relationship with people and communities’ set out in the Five Year Forward View

The six principles require that:

1. Care and support is person-centred: personalised, coordinated, and empowering
2. Services are created in partnership with citizens and communities
3. Focus is on equality and narrowing inequalities
4. Carers are identified, supported and involved
5. Voluntary, community and social enterprise and housing sectors are involved as key partners and enablers
6. Volunteering and social action are recognised as key enablers

The Six principles for engaging people and communities: definitions, evaluation and measurement document contains information and suggestions to help organisations and planners to understand and measure the impact of engaging with local people and communities.

Download Six principles for engaging people and communities: definitions, evaluation and measurement

There is also a Six principles for engaging people and communities: putting them into practice documentwhich sets out why the principles are important, and offers case studies and key questions to help local leaders put them into practice.

Download Six principles for engaging people and communities: putting them into practice

EU referendum: Potential implications for the North West

The North West Leaders Board, which comprises of local authority leaders from the region along with other representatives including VSNW Chief Executive Warren Escadale, have issued a report on the implications of leaving the EU for the North West.

It identifies a number of issues associated with the planned referendum, and the possibility of a vote to leave
the EU, that are of particular relevance to the North West. The report aims to inform debate on this issue in advance of the planned referendum, the outcome of which will have significant implications both nationally and locally. It also includes recommendations for reform should we remain in the EU.

There was also a recent NCVO paper on the referendum which you can find on their website - https://www.ncvo.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/1334-ncvo-discussion-paper-explores-implications-of-eu-membership-for-charities?highlight=WyJyZWZlcmVuZHVtIl0=

New Regional Voices briefing: VCSE Review Recommendations

Regional Voices, of which VSNW is a member, has published a new summary of the recommendations of the VCSE Review. The review examined role of the VCSE in improving health, wellbeing and care outcomes.

The report is based on the largest ever review of the voluntary sector's involvement in statutory health and social care, urges hospitals, clinical commissioning groups and councils to do more to involve expert charities in the design and delivery of services of all kinds. 

The summary includes the 28 report recommendations covering issues including social prescribing, volunteering, transparency and funding to support the sector.

Inclusive Growth analysis tool launched by JRF

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, in conjunction with the University of Manchester, has launched a new inclusive growth tool that monitors LEPs nationwide on both prosperity and inclusion.   

The initial report’s findings, which compare prosperity and inclusion scores for 2010-14 based on a composite of eighteen indicators, suggest that there is little correlation between prosperity and inclusion in the UK (see image below).

Figures for the North West LEPs indicate a mixed bag- while changes in both prosperity and inclusion in Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria were better than average, Liverpool City Region and in particular Lancashire performed quite badly. Greater Manchester had a high prosperity score for the period yet it was in the bottom quartile for inclusion. 

The monitor will be updated by the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit, which is a joint venture between JRF and the University of Manchester, headed by Ruth Lupton of the university. The GM VCSE Devolution Reference Group met with Ruth in May, and will be working with her to ensure that the voices of communities are adequately reflected in the unit’s work.

The tool will complement the RSA’s Inclusive Growth Commission and the Greater Manchester Growth and Inclusion Review, which have both launched recently. 

More information on the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit can be found on the University of Manchester’s website.

Review of partnerships and investment in the voluntary sector

The final report of the VCSE Review, Joint review of partnerships and investment in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in the health and care sector, has been launched. You can access a copy of the report here.

The review has been conducted in partnership between the Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England and representatives from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector including Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a member.

The aim of the review was to:

• describe the role of the VCSE sector in improving health, wellbeing and care outcomes
• identify the challenges and opportunities in realising the sector’s potential
• address these challenges and maximise the opportunities

The report makes recommendations for government, health and care system partners, funders, regulatory bodies and the VCSE sector. It emphasises putting wellbeing at the centre of health and care services, and making VCSE organisations an integral part of a collaborative system.

A blog by Alex Fox, the review’s chair, can be found here: blog on the VCSE Review site

Map of European funds by LEP area

The Local Government Chronicle have produced a map of European funding for 2014-20 by LEP area.

This shows that the allocated funding for the North West is:

265m euros  Lancashire

91m euros    Cumbria

414m euros  Greater Manchester

221m euros  Liverpool City Region

142m euros  Cheshire and Warrington

This map is part of an article about the potential impacts of the EU referendum vote on this funding (subscription required) - http://www.lgcplus.com/politics-and-policy/finance/brexit-and-reforms-create-uncertainty-over-european-funding/7004041.article?blocktitle=European-Funding&contentID=23437

New report - Independence in Question

Independence in Question is the fifth annual assessment of the state of health of the voluntary sector, following on from the final report the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector published in February 2015. The report was published by Civil Exchange with the support of the Baring Foundation and the Lankelly Chase Foundation.

The report warns that the independence of the charity sector is at a five year low, leaving an unhealthy imbalance between community, private sector and state power and the sector in a critical position, and it calls for united action by the voluntary sector to stave off potential further threats.

The report also highlights how the new ‘no advocacy’ clauses in all taxpayer funded grants announced in February 2016 mark a key shift in the balance of voices shaping public policy. The input of grass root and expert voluntary organisations ensures all voices in society can be heard, the report argues, and is especially important at a time of massive changes in services and benefits. It documents a range of challenges that are weakening the voluntary sector including unsupportive statutory funding and contracting arrangements, and challenge to the independent purpose of some charities caused partly by commercialisation which may affect the distinction between the sector and the private and public sectors.

Link
Independence in Question: the voluntary sector in 2016