14th March 2016
A Rounded Approach
Joint ECVS and Essex Voluntary Sector Alliance Event
Child Sexual Exploitation Campaign
Free Office Items Available
Carers’ Questions Event
Art for Wellbeing
A Rounded Approach
A half-day conference for mental health providers
‘A Rounded Approach’is a half-day conference for mental health providers, commissioners and professionals which will take place at Chelmsford Football Ground on 25th April 2016 from 10 am to 1 pm.
The Care Quality Commission published a report in June 2015 labelling mental health crisis care in England as ‘inadequate’ and warning that the system is ‘struggling to cope’. Commenting, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said:
“The "failure to take a rounded approach which focuses on public mental health as well as providing access to care means that reports likes this one will keep on coming.”
Aiming to stimulate discussion around what a rounded approach could look like locally, Mid Essex and Rayleigh & Rochford Community Voluntary Services are jointly hosting a half-day conference to bring together professionals working in the field of mental health or advice across all sectors to explore the impact of changes to delivery, identify gaps and facilitate understanding and potential partnership working between sectors.
The keynote speaker is confirmed as Dr Caroline Dollery, Clinical Chair of Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and a GP at Beacon Health Group in Danbury. Caroline has helped develop and lead mental health leadership across the east of England, and is now Clinical Director for the East of England Strategic Clinical Network for mental health, dementia, neurology, learning disability and autism. An active participant in the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)’s mental health network, sitting on the Mental Health Strategy Group, Caroline is also a member of NHS Clinical Commissioners and the national taskforce on primary care mental health, and sits on its Mental Health Commissioner Network’s Steering Group.
Increasing access to mental health care is key to plans to ensure that mental and physical health services are integrated and given equal priority by 2020, but how to do this with ever less resource is a challenge that will impact across all sectors. By providing information, improved connections and focussed discussion this event aims to explore how we can work better together to enhance services to prevent the system failing local people.
Places at the conference are free and refreshments, including a light lunch, will be provided. Please mark the date in your diary and register your interest at we will then send you further information.
A limited number of exhibition spaces are available for organisations delivering services to improve mental health in Chelmsford, Braintree, Maldon or Rayleigh & Rochford districts. If you are interested in exhibiting please contact: or soon as possible.
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Devolution or Evolution?
Joint ECVS and Essex Voluntary Sector Alliance Event
ECVS and the VCS Alliancewill be hosting an event, organised by Voluntary Sector Training, on 4th April 2016 from 9 am to 1 pm at ChelmerValleySchool, Court Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford CM1 7ER. The aim of the meeting is for the sector to better understand Devolution and its likely effects on Organisations and their beneficiaries.
From the perspective of someone running a busy organisation ‘Devolution’ is quite a nebulous concept and difficult to prioritise. However, it will have a significant effect on the work of organisations in the future.
Voluntary sector involvement has been limited up to now and this event aims to find ways to redress that. Peter Fairley, Head of Policy and Strategy (People), from Essex County Council will be available as well as Alex Whinnom, Chief Executive of GMCVO who will be speaking to give a VCS perspective on the Greater Manchester experience of Devolution.
To reserve your free place at this event go to:
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I Didn't Know
Child Sexual Exploitation Campaign
A new Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Campaign launches today (14th March) across the County, run by Essex Police and the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Safeguarding Children Boards.
The ‘I Didn’t Know’ campaign consists of five key messages aimed at different areas of the community – young people, parents, public and businesses:
- I didn’t know my daughter was being sexually exploited – I thought she was out with friends
- I didn’t know I was being targeted for sex, I thought we were online friends
- I didn’t know my boyfriend wanted me to have sex with his friends
- I didn’t know that if I had concerns about exploitation I could call the police
- I didn’t know that texting a naked photo to my girlfriend would end up on the internet forever
Each day this week there will be key messages published on social media using the hashtag #KnowAboutCSE alongside a web film so do get involved if you’re on social media and help to raise awareness of CSE. The culmination of the week of activity coincides with the National Awareness Day on Friday.
Thursday 17th March plays host to a live web chat between 5-7pm in which representatives from Essex County Council and Essex Police will be answering questions from the public about CSE.
More information and downloadable posters are available at Essex Police and Essex Children Safeguarding Board
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Free Office Items Available
There are a variety of unwanted books, shelves, chairs, tables and other assorted furniture in the now vacant St. Cedd’s building, Princes Road, Maldon.
If you think you could use any of these items and would like to take a look at what’s available please contact Chris Rust of Maldon District Council 01621 875811who can arrange for a member of the Facilities staff to be on hand to show the items.
Please contact Chris before the end of March when the building must beemptied and any remaining items will be disposed of.
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Carers’ Questions Event
The Care Act 2014 heralded some real changes for carers’ rights by putting them on an equal footing to the cared for, but one year on from its implementation has it made a difference for carers?
Healthwatch Essex is holding a Carers’ Questions Event on Friday 1st April, from 10am – 12pm at Essex Records Office, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT.
This is an opportunity to put questions directly to the people who make decisions about social care.
To book a place, email or phone 01376 572829 by 19th March 2016.
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Art for Wellbeing
Create and Flourish is working with adults to help manage mental health and focus on positive thinking and having fun!
Upcoming ‘Art for Wellbeing’ sessions will take place on Fridays 18th March, and 8th and 15th April from 10.30 am to12.30 pm at The Station House, Station Road, Burnham on Crouch. Sessions cost £5 and include refreshments.
To book a place contact Arts Coordinator Triss Norman on 07846 978582 or email For more information visit the website at
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