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Introducing the... The aim of the vSPA (Voluntary Sector Single Point of Access) is to provide an effective referral route into health and social care voluntary services and to support people to receive services at home or as close to home as is possible. The service covers Erewash, Hardwick and North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) patient population. How works: We take calls from both voluntary and statutory sector health & social care professionals who tell us their professional opinion of what voluntary sector support a patient needs. With consent, we phone the patient and chat about this, finding out what they feel they need. We agree with the patient one or more options that would help them and liaise on their behalf to put services in place. This could be anything from someone to pop in for a cuppa once a week, to an introduction to a condition related support group and transport to get there – often a number of things, whatever is needed. We also note the gaps where we are asked to arrange services where none exist or are not suitable. Why works: Being voluntary sector ourselves, we have a wide knowledge of who does what and where. Overwhelmingly, referrers say that VSPA has saved them time, highlighted services they didn’t previously know about and has quickly become a valued service to them. 23% of referrers would not have tried to find a voluntary sector service before VSPA started, according to our survey. We are a professional and friendly non-medical team that creates a rapport with patients to get to the heart of what they feel would help them best cope with their situation. We have real time data on where the gaps in services are and use this to micro-commission services at a local community level. To reach VSPA, call 0300 1000442 - choose option 2 for VSPA. Please note - this is not a public facing service and this number should not be shared with the general public.
