The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) analyses the health needs of populations to inform and guide commissioning of health, well-being and social care services within local authority areas. The main goal of the Manchester JSNA is to accurately assess the health needs of the population in order to improve the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals and communities.
Planning for the Greater Manchester ‘A Better Start’ bid has begun in earnest. Researchers commissioned by the Big Lottery Fund have been undertaking well-being surveys with 3,000 families across Greater Manchester, focusing on the challenges faced by families and children. This will help form the evidence base for the Greater Manchester bid.
Community Partnership
Manchester’s Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s) and Manchester City Council (MCC) are working together to redesign mental health and wellbeing services with an intention to commission new services from April 2015. Macc are helping them to co-ordinate their engagement with the voluntary and community sector which will take place from mid November 2013 for a 12 week period.
The ‘Early Help Strategy’ has been developed under the governance of Manchester’s Children’s Board and the ‘Multi-Agency Levels of Need (Threshold) Document’ has been developed under the governance of Manchester Safeguarding Children Board. Both documents are effective from Friday 25 October 2013.
Manchester Policy Week runs from 28 October – 1 November at The University of Manchester.
Events include debates and discussion on;
• zero hours contracts and proposed policy changes
• how local policy can help migrants feel welcome
• understanding spatial issues in public policy
• transportation policy issues surrounding ageing
• young men as perpetrators of domestic abuse
• current changes to public health policy
• Labour’s record on education
• policy intervention in domestic heating provision
At our Spirit of Manchester awards event last month one of the categories was for Most Successful Campaign. We wanted to acknowledge campaigning work because we’ve always believed that it’s the job of charities not just to meet needs but to drive change for the longer term. The history of social change in this country has been driven by the campaigning efforts of groups for centuries.
As you may be aware, earlier this year the City Council launched a competitive tendering process for the contract to provide support to the city's voluntary and community sector for the next three years.
We are delighted to announce that Macc has been awarded this contract.
The Compact Awards highlight outstanding examples of partnership work between voluntary and community organisations and the statutory sector and provide an opportunity to recognise achievement as a result of the Compact way of working. 
Compact Voice are now inviting nominations for the Compact Awards which provide examples of best practice in partnership working.
The judges, including the Lord Mayor of Manchester, have now met and decided on the shortlisted candidates for the first Spirit of Manchester Award! The nominations reflected all the exciting and diverse work happening in Manchester's voluntary and community sector. We will be making films of all the shortlisted applicants which will be voted on at the awards ceremony to determine the winner.
We are excited that the awards will be presented at the new NOMA building, thank you to the Co-operative who kindly donated the room.
Shortlisted organisations
Manchester City Council wants residents to comment on proposed changes to Council Tax Support, which helps working-age people on a low income to pay their council tax bill. The proposal is to reduce the amount of help they provide, as Government funding has been reduced.