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History of the NSPF

  • Last modified date:
    16 December 2005
  • Series number:
    32858
On 28 August 2003, the Department launched the consultation document Making Partnership Work for Patients, Carers and Service Users, a strategic partnership agreement between the DH, the NHS and the VCS to enable the VCS to play a full part in NHS service delivery and remove the barriers to joint working. The barriers to joint working include difficulties in communications between partners, uncertainties about funding and inconsistencies in policy. The consultation closed on 20 November 2003 and a response document was published in May 2004.

On 20 September 2004 the Secretary of State for Health announced the launch of A Strategic Agreement between the DH, NHS and VCS. It underpins and complements the Compact and its Codes of Practice at all levels of partnership working. The Compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector in England to improve their relationship for everyone's advantage.

The Strategic Agreement provided the framework for a new National Strategic Partnership Forum. The membership of the NSPF was announced in February 2005 and held its first meeting in April 2005. The second meeting was held successfully in July 2005 and the third meeting in October 2005.

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