In February, our partner National Voices hosted a National Learning Event for the Core20PLUS Connector sites with SCW, NHS England Health Inequalities Improvement Team and The Health Creation Alliance. The event celebrated the Connectors, the fantastic work they are doing and the impact they are making. We're pleased to continue coordinating the Core20PLUS Connectors programme across England and to share with you the key points from the event.
We are delighted to share the event recording, each session has a link below or can be viewed in full.
The interactive event was well attended by around 150 individuals and groups of Connectors, their local delivery partner from the Voluntary, Community, Faith, Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector or Healthwatch organisations alongside their Integrated Care System (ICS) Programme teams from all 4 waves of Connectors, and we welcomed representatives from the 12 ICS who are looking to join in 2024/25 as a wave 5. The event was facilitated by Sarah Sweeney, Director of Membership and Development at National Voices.
Plenary from Professor Bola Owolabi, National Clinical Director for Healthcare Inequalities at NHS England
Professor Bola Owolabi shared a story about a homeless patient who was supported by the homelessness service to rehabilitate back into their community and become drug-free. She went on to explain that when those such as Core20PLUS Connectors connect with people meaningfully, people’s lives can change for the better and this is why the programme is very close to her heart.
The thinking behind the Core20PLUS 5 model came from the Covid pandemic. Bola alongside the Minster Nadim Zahawi, the vaccination programme minister at the time, noticed that progress was being made in places where there were trusted voices and people on the ground. People who could share the message with the community, in a way that professionals and politicians could not.
This led to the creation of a delivery framework that would include people across the country who are those trusted voices and faces.
Connectors are the people helping to translate our policy to something meaningful in the community - Professor Bola Owolabi
Bola went on to explain the importance of trust, from her work with the United Nations as reflected in the Core20PLUS5 Connectors Interim report and that 'the messenger is just as important as the message.'
The voices of yourselves as real people in the community must have parity of esteem with the voices of professionals. - Professor Boal Owolabi
Bola shared her key thoughts:
- We need to share power
- A system way of thinking, the answers sit between us
- Connectors can help to translate policy into something meaningful and from the ground up
- Sustainability is achieved by demonstrating impact, especially where system funding decisions are made on the ability to demonstrate tangible impact.
Bola’s closing message was to draw attention to how Connectors build sufficient evidence demonstrating their impact, and support for the esteemed voices of people in their community and without Connectors we cannot build trust.
Session 1: Using community insights to address systemic inequalities in the NHS
The panel shared examples of times when they used community insights to address systemic inequalities in the NHS. Panel: Professor Bola Owolabi, Khudeja Amer Sharif, CEO of Shama Women’s Centre and Asma Osman, Outreach Manager for Doula Connectors at Approachable Parenting.
Session 2: Developing strong, equal and trusting partnerships between the NHS with people and communities.
Sophia Morris, System Clinical Lead for Inequalities at Mid and South Essex ICS started this session by sharing their Connectors experiences of working in partnership to address healthcare inequalities. This was followed with three breakout sessions on:
- Lessons from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland on how to develop partnerships of equals - led by The Health Creation Alliance joined by Keval Sachdev, a Community Connector in LLR, Dr Raj Than, LLR ICB Primary Care Lead for HI and Beena Solanki, a Coordinator at Shama. Watch this session.
Each panel member shared their experiences on this topic. Keval spoke of his struggles to get an accurate diagnosis and found he was not being listened to and the doctor interacted in a power dynamic manner. Dr Than, shared how their system is shifting in some important ways, but recognising there is much further to go. There are barriers between clinicians and patients that are not spoken about. When clinicians share their own difficulties and ‘system frustrations’ with communities, it helps to build trust. Communities gained insights into the issues, and respect has grown, which in turn helps to resolve issues. LLR ICB has made 'health inequalities' a central focus, with coproduction with Connectors from an earlier stage. Beena shared how the programme has been inspiring, motivating and healing for Connectors. Their own lived experience helping them to communicate and reassure people which offers something different to clinicians. - A panel discussion on the key ingredients for developing strong, equal and trusting partnerships between the NHS with people and communities - led by Andrew Fenton, Director of Population Health and Inequalities, SCW, Joan Gabay Connector with Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN), Tara Spence, Chief Executive Officer at Home-Start in Suffolk, Tim Anfilogoff, Head of Community Resilience at NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board. The panel discussed the need to support the voluntary sector with sustainable income so they can support initiatives like Connectors, and understand what is available locally, including funding. Watch this session.
- A series of ‘popcorn’ presentations from Connector sites sharing what they have been doing and key lessons - led by Mary Hill from NHS England with Raj Johal, Community Connector with Derby Asian Strategic Partnership, Carrie Duran, Head of Health and Care Programmes, Hull CVS. Gabrielle Quaye, Black THRIVE South East London. Watch this session.
Session 3: Making the work of the Core20PLUS Connectors Programme sustainable
The panel session was led by Merron Simpson, Chief Executive of The Health Creation Alliance and joined by a panel of; Thomas Herweijer, Programme Transformation Manager - Long Term Conditions and Community Empowerment at South West London Integrated Care Board, Samira Ben Omar, Director at Samira Ben Omar Associates ltd, Sally Yeoman, CEO at Halton & St Helens VCA. Watch this session.
Session 4: How to influence ICS plans for healthcare inequalities
Presented by Mary Hill, Head of Policy – Healthcare Inequalities Improvement at NHS England. Watch this session (from 32 minutes).
Core20PLUS Connectors are central to the National Programme, pushing the cultural shift across the NHS around co-production and co-design of services from the outset and moving to address inequalities as default and involving people and communities. - Mary Hill, Healthcare Inequalities Improvement at NHS England
There are lots of opportunities to influence plans at local, place or system levels, asking simple questions such as ‘How is the Healthcare Inequalities funding being used locally?’
SCW and NHS England would like to thank everyone who attended, including the presenters for sharing their stories and insights into the fantastic Connectors work and the benefits they make to communities. And of course, to National Voices for hosting the event, and The Health Creation Alliance for their support for the sessions and event.
