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Social enterprise
Social enterprises are organisations that are run along business lines, but where any profits are reinvested into the community or into service developments. Encouraging social enterprise in health and social care is a key part of the patient led reforms.
Social Enterprise - Making a Difference: a guide to the Right to Request.
The ‘right to request’ is part of a bigger vision for the future of the NHS as set out in High Quality Care For All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report published in June 2008. This recognised that we will only succeed in placing quality at the heart of everything we do if frontline NHS staff are given the freedom to use their talents to find innovative ways to improve quality of care for patients.
This guide aims to support NHS staff who are thinking of taking up the ‘right to request’ and setting up a social enterprise to deliver healthcare services to NHS patients.
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Related links
Social Enterprise Network
The only national network for those with an interest in social enterprise and social entrepreneurship in health and care.
Social Enterprise Coalition
Elements of Success: Good practice for community-based social enterprises
Turning Point has published a new report that highlights good practice for community based social enterprises who work in the health and social care sector. The report contains good practice tips and case studies around becoming financially sustainable, working with other organisations, developing the skills and experience of your workforce and monitoring and evaluation.
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