In April 2016 it was agreed by SWF Healthcare 2000 Group (SWFHC2000) and SWF Town Council (SWF TC) to form the new South Woodham Ferrers Health & Social Care Group (SWF H&SCG). This is an amalgamation of SWFHC2000 and the SWF Care Lunches. It was agreed to run SWF H&SCG for an initial year’s pilot when it was reviewed in conjunction with SWF TC. It was then agreed to continue as SWF H&SCG was operating as had been intended.

SWFH&SCG is an independent group with its own governance arrangements as set out below.

Purpose of the Group

SWF H&SCG was established to look after the health and social care interests of the people of South Woodham Ferrers, recognising the roles of health and social care related professionals, volunteers and the Patient Participation Groups.

SWF H&SCG incorporates the SWFHC2000 Task Force, which convene when consultation or representation is required to consider major health and social care issues affecting the Town.

The task force includes representatives from:

  • Essex County Council
  • Chelmsford City Council
  • SWF Town Council
  • SWF Chairs of Patient Participation Groups (PPGs)
  • SWF Practice Managers
  • SWF Church Community
  • SWF Pharmacists
  • SWF Dentists
  • SWF Opticians
  • Members of the SWF Business Community
  • SWF Educational establishments
  • SWF Womens Institutes (WIs)
  • SWF Rotary Club
  • SWF Senior Citizens
  • SWF Sports & uniformed groups

Others may be added as needed. The Town’s MP is kept advised of significant developments and is expected to continue to use this group for appropriate constituency purposes.

Each of SWF’s three General Practices has a Patient Participation Group (PPG) which interacts with the Practice Staff to try to ensure that the best quality services are provided for their patients. In addition there is a combined group known as the South Woodham Ferrers Combined PPGs (CPPGs).  The CPPGs works closely with SWF H&SCG on matters involving all health and social care services provision for the Town. SWF H&SCG leads on all non-GP services whilst the CPPGs leads on the Town’s GP services. Although individual Practices have their own websites on which PPGs have a page, they have agreed with SWF H&SCG to use its website for communicating collective issues.  Additionally they will utilise SWF H&CG’s social media to obtain the widest possible coverage. So from time to time you will see PPG news here helping to give an integrated view of health and social care in SWF.

Governance

SWF H&SCG is open to anyone who lives, works, has a local need to access health and social care or is involved in health and social care in SWF.

SWF H&SCG will be managed by a Management Team comprising Chair, Task Force Chair and Minute Secretary, supported by an Administrator.

There will be an annual meeting open to all, at which the posts of Chair, Task Force Chair and Minute Secretary, will be elected.

Nomination notices will be issued on the website, on the Town’s social media, in the Group’s weekly newsletter, and as far as possible in Focus the local press 4 weeks prior to the meeting with nominations for office required 2 weeks before the meeting.

The nominations will be addressed to the Administrator.

Nominees must have a proposer and seconder and be willing to serve.

SWF TC will assign a representative and/or a deputy to attend meetings and report back to SWF TC as appropriate.

The SWF TC representative will also be a member of the Task Force as required.

The Administrator will be appointed by the Management Team and he/she will receive an honorarium or be paid on a self-employed basis for the work.

SWF H&SCG has a bank account and there will be an annual financial statement submitted by the Administrator to SWF TC on a date to be agreed.

SWF H&SCG’s Annual General Meeting will be chaired by a City Councillor.

Venue for meetings

Any SWF H&SCG public meetings will normally be held in Holy Trinity Church, SWF, subject to availability.
Holy Trinity Church has kindly agreed to provide this facility free of charge.
These public meetings will be held as required from 6.30pm – 8.30pm on a weekday evening to maximise
accessibility to everyone.
Tea, coffee, water and biscuits will be provided.
At the 2019 AGM it was agreed that SWF H&SCG would move to a more online way of operating by increasing its use of its website, social media and virtual means. This has proved to be timely as it was been invaluable during the Covid-19 pandemic and is proving to be popular since then.