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The following information is currently being updated and may be out of date due to the abolition of the PPI Forums. The Forums have been replaced by Local Involvement Networks. If you have any queries please contact 01225 701120. Hap have developed an interactive technology based service called Community Voices Online which is dedicated to supporting Local Involvement Networks (LINks) and Host Organisations. Please click here to visit Community Voices Online. If you would like to view a brochure for Community Voices Online please click here. If you would like to view Hap's supporting a successful LINk document please email for a copy or phone 0845 6015849. About Us Membership of the company is open to not-for-profit organisations and individuals with an interest in supporting patient and public involvement initiatives within the NHS local area. Current members include all local Citizen Advice Bureau, MIND and the local Community Legal Services Partnership. Membership is being extended across the geographic area to be covered and other interested bodies – Age Concern, Carers Forum, NYAS, etc – will now be invited to participate. The company operates with a small Board of Directors elected by members, with an Advisory Steering Group representative of all members. The Forums, established by the Health and Social Care Act (2002) replaced Community Health Councils (CHCs) on 1st December 2003. Forums are the responsibility of the Commission of Patient and Public Involvement in Health (the Commission); who will establish codes of practice, protocols and policies. The Commission has banded Forums together into networks within localities. The Commission sought tenders to support these networks. The company secured contracts to provide administrative support to six networks covering the whole of Somerset and Wiltshire; and the three Unitary Council areas of Bath and North East Somerset, and Swindon. Each contract is for two years with a possible one-year extension. A total of thirteen Forums will be supported under these contract arrangements. Forums will take over community advocacy role, previously carried out by CHCs. This includes: Forums will eventually assume responsibility for commissioning and/or delivery of the statutory independent complaints advocacy service (ICAS) locally. This service provides support to ensure that patients/relatives with complaints about their NHS treatment are guided through the complex statutory NHS Complaints Procedure. There is no responsibility for outcomes of the complaint. ICAS merely ensures that complaints get access to all stages of the procedure as required, and to accompany complaints to meetings as desired. The company provides necessary administration to ensure that these responsibilities are undertaken – to the standards, policies and procedures laid down by the Commission. The company is provided with IT facilities and paid for its services by the Commission under contractual arrangements. The appointment, activities and training of the individual Forum voluntary members is funded directly by the Commission. A complaints procedure about Forum activity will be established, with the Commission South West regional office being the final arbiter. Neither individual Forums nor the company administered local support networks have any responsibility for clinical or management arrangements of the Trusts being monitored. Areas the Health Advocacy Partnership Covers:
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The Health Advocacy Partnership Limited is a not-for-profit company, formed to provide professional staff and administrative support to the voluntary members of Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forums (PPIF).