The third sector is well placed to indentify health and social care needs and advise on how these needs might best be met.
‘Partnership in Public Services – An Action Plan for Third Sector involvement’, has been agreed with the five major central government spending departments; it identifies new areas of opportunity for a range of providers and aims to help the third sector have access to them. It sets out to ensure that all third sector organisations, whatever their size, can make a contribution to public services, if they want to.
The DH, the NHS and social care have a long and established history of working with the Third Sector. The Strategic Agreement "Making Partnership Work for Patients, Carers and Service User" launched in 2004 recognises that a successful, mature and sustainable partnership with the NHS, Third Sector and the DH is critical and is integral to the development and delivery of user centred health and social services.
This underpins and complements the 'Compact' and its Codes of Practice at all levels of partnership working. The 'Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in England’, is an agreement between government and third sector voluntary and community organisations in England to improve their relationships for mutual advantage. It sets out the statement of intent to work in an important and much needed partnership.
Statistical validity
This paper explains the principles of statistical variability, explaining confidence intervals and discussing strategies for dealing with small numbers, and common statistical pitfalls and fallacies.
Projection methods
This paper discusses statistical methods of producing projections, and highlights relevant software that can be used to assist in JSNA.
Data sharing for JSNA
This paper sets out key principles and identifies key resources that may help people share data legally and safely for the purpose of JSNA.