Valuing the voluntary sector – how the NHS in south west London is doing things differently

After voluntary and community groups did so much to support local people during the pandemic, the local NHS is now working more closely with our partners to benefit from their skills, experience and deep knowledge of local communities. 

To help us connect with our communities and the voluntary sector across our six boroughs, the NHS is working together with local leaders to create a south west London voluntary sector alliance.  This alliance will help join up our voluntary sector partners, make sure the NHS understands their potential to connect and support our local communities. 

While the NHS has always prioritised the voices of local people, the aim now is to provide an official seat at the most senior decision-making table in south west London by creating a new director role.

The NHS in South West London has created a new Director of Voluntary and Community Sector Engagement and Partnership.  The new director will have the opportunity to drive change and the ability to make a tangible difference to the relationship between the voluntary sector and the NHS – building on the strong relationships developed during the pandemic.

The post holder will sit on the South West London Integrated Care Partnership Board – alongside chief executives and senior leaders from health and care organisations in South West London.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a real and tangible difference for local people.”

Sarah Burns, Director of Communities at Croydon Voluntary Action

Sarah Blow, chief executive of the NHS in South West London, said:

“For leaders of the NHS and local authority organisations, partnering with voluntary and community sector– especially grass-roots organisations – can be transformative.

“It means we can include our communities’ voices, experiences and resources at the core of our work to improve health and wellbeing. For VCSE organisations, these partnerships offer the opportunity to become more embedded in local decision-making, rather than engagement on an issue-by-issue basis.”

Sarah Burns, Director of Communities at Croydon Voluntary Action, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a real and tangible difference for local people and we are looking forward to welcoming a board member who is ready to help us deliver services for everyone in south west London.”

South West London Integrated Care System advertised the new post in January and February 2023, looking for an experienced and enthusiastic director to lead the development of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance across our six boroughs. The post will be hosted by Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) as the lead organisation for the development of our Alliance in South West London. Keep an eye on our news pages for an announcement on appointment.