The input of local people, partners and local organisations is invaluable to us in shaping healthcare services.
We often have involvement exercises running, and the details of any that are currently active will be available below - simply click the title to read more.
Current ICB involvement opportunities
We are looking to recruit a small co-design reference group (with remuneration) to improve interpretation and translation services in primary care.
The Black Country ICB commissions interpretation and translation services as part of its broader responsibility for planning and managing local primary care services, supporting the language and communication needs of patients when accessing those services. Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental and optometry services.
As part of a re-procurement exercise, we have an excellent opportunity to review the service specification which sets out our expectations and requirements of the service. We want to shape the new service specification with people and communities through their insights, experiences and ideas, while exploring how we can improve and better meet the needs of our patients.
Local people have previously shared their experiences with us, which indicate issues around service inequity, ease of access for patients, health inequalities, variation in service quality as well as public awareness of interpretation and translation services.
What’s the ask?
To drive service improvement, we are recruiting a small co-design reference group of up to ten experts with lived and learned experience, to assess if the new service specification meets the needs and demands of people facing barriers to communication.
Applicants should be trusted voices in the community who may work closely with people experiencing language and communication barriers, or who have good knowledge of the needs and challenges experienced by the community, when accessing primary care.
We are seeking representatives of the following:
- Top ten non-English languages spoken in the Black Country (top five as a minimum)
- Hearing loss
- Sensory impairments
- Learning disabilities
- Autism
Based on official census data from 2021 the top ten non-English languages spoken in the Black Country are listed below in order of prevalence:
- Punjabi
- Polish
- Urdu
- Romanian
- Bengali
- Kurdish
- Arabic
- Gujurati
- Pakistani Pahari
- Lithuanian
There will be an assessment process to select members of the co-design reference group and expressions of interest will open from mid-April to early May 2025.
Please look out for updates on how to apply.
Commitment
There will up to four half day workshops (as needed) to review and critique the draft service specification in light of your specialist expertise and determine if there are any gaps in our insight or if there is a need for further engagement.
Members of the reference group will be required to attend all sessions that go ahead which are planned for the following dates:
- Tuesday 3 June 2025 (pm)
- Wednesday 11 June 2025 (pm)
- Thursday 19 June 2025 (pm)
- Wednesday 25 June 2025 (pm)
There may be a further opportunity to nominate one member of reference group as an impartial lay representative, to sit on the procurement panel.
Remuneration
Successful applicants will be compensated for their involvement at the rate of £75 per workshop.
If a need is identified for further conversations with people and communities, this will be agreed and appropriately remunerated.
More information and how to apply
An expression of interest form will need to be completed, which will be uploaded here once recruitment goes live from mid-April until early May 2025.
We will also be hosting an online briefing session during the application period on Wednesday 30 April at 2 pm for anyone seeking more information and support.
Further details and Expression Of Interest form to follow.
NHS Black Country ICB is looking to recruit “Ambassadors” across the Black Country to help reach underserved communities and to address health inequalities in accessing general practice services across the Black Country.
We want to work with local organisations to recruit “Ambassadors” that will promote, share, and spread messages about changes to accessing general practice services to our people and communities, focusing on reaching those who face the poorest health outcomes. We will provide the ambassadors with the messages we want them to deliver, but they’ll also listen to understand the barriers our communities face in accessing general practice services.
Ambassadors should be trusted voices working within our communities to understand what barriers and challenges communities face when accessing general practice and how we can work together to better improve their access, experience and outcomes. The feedback we receive will help us shape and co-design future communication within our communities and influence the rollout of modern general practice to practices in areas with the poorest health outcomes.
We recognise that you might not feel equipped with all of the information and messages on the changes to accessing general practice services, so we will be hosting a training workshop that takes place on the 13th May from 10am – 4pm which is essential to attend.
Ambassadors will receive project funds of £3600 for VCSE led conversations and co-design to be delivered between April and September 2025. The funding is based on 1 day a week for 24 weeks at £150 per day and will be paid before delivery of the work.
Send your expression of interest form to involve.blackcountry@nhs.net by 31st March 2025. We will be reviewing the expressions of interest once we have reached the deadline for applications and will be letting successful applicants know week commencing 21st April.
As technology is being used more frequently within health and social care settings, the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) has launched a survey to explore how GP services are being accessed digitally and connect with people who may not have access to a digital device.
We would like to hear from as many people as possible about their experiences and any barriers faced, in accessing digital resources for their health and care needs. This will build on the insights we have gathered from local people over the last couple of years and once collated, will shape what more we can be doing to support people to access digital tools, help and advice.
You are invited to complete our survey, and we encourage you to share this opportunity with any relatives, friends, neighbours or groups who may not be online/ don’t have a digital device and may need support to complete the survey. This could be in one of the following ways:
- By completing the online survey, with the help of someone who has a device or can complete it on their behalf if needed at: https://
forms.office.com/ e/ dN7Nr2uDSF - By completing the survey over the phone – Please contact the Involvement team on 0121 612 1447, who will arrange a call-back with the Digital Inequalities team.
- By requesting paper copies of the survey to share with any groups you may belong to, whom this survey might apply - please send requests directly to emma.
sharman @nhs.net
Current partner consultation/engagement activities
The government is seeking views on their Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which aims to kickstart a drive to improve digital inclusion. This call for evidence is seeking views on the action plan, including the first five actions. It is open to everyone and will run until 11:55pm on 9 April 2025. You can respond as a:
- local and/or combined authority
- business
- charity
- community group
- member of the public.
They are looking to ensure that people have:
- access to a stable and affordable internet connection
- the right sort of device
- the skills needed to complete tasks confidently and safely online.
Their aim is that over the next 12 months, this action plan will kickstart the drive to improve digital inclusion. Digital inclusion means ensuring everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to engage in a modern digital society and economy, whatever their circumstances.
Walsall Council’s Bereavement Services is currently seeking residents’ views on a range of aspects of service for our cemeteries and the chapels and grounds at Streetly Crematorium. The consultation, which is now open, will help shape the future of Bereavement Services and create an opportunity to respond to some proposed changes to our cemetery rules and regulations, preferences regarding the range and style of memorial products we provide and burial options available.
The Council’s Bereavement Services is responsible for the maintenance of seven cemeteries across the borough: Bentley Cemetery, Bloxwich Cemetery, James Bridge Cemetery, North Walsall Cemetery, Ryecroft Cemetery, Streetly Cemetery and Willenhall Lawn Cemetery, as well as Streetly Crematorium.
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council said, “We all face the realities of loss at some time in our lives and sadly bereavement will at some point affect all of us. The council’s Bereavement Services is committed to offering residents the highest standards of service.”
“Whilst a sensitive subject for many, we invite all residents to share their views, by participating in this survey. We understand that the needs and preferences of those we serve are diverse and evolving and by engaging with our local community, we aim to ensure that the services and products offered meet the highest standards of care and support. This consultation will help us identify areas for improvement and innovation, ensuring that we continue to offer a meaningful and respectful service at such a challenging time.
To complete the online survey visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/bereavement-services-consultation
The survey takes around 5-10 minutes to complete. The closing date for responses is 23:59 on 21 April 2025.
The Bereavement Services team look forward to hearing everyone's views.
Should you or someone you know need this information or survey in an alternative format to their say, i.e. large text, audio, or a community language, please email consultations
