Southern Derbyshire Voluntary Sector Mental Health Forum Membership Policy

Southern Derbyshire Voluntary Sector Mental Health Forum exists for;

The advancement of education of voluntary organisations and individuals working in the mental health field by the provision of training, information, and consultation, representation and liaison with other bodies on relevant policies and programmes affecting the mental health voluntary sector.

(Constitution, July 2007)

What does this mean in practical terms?

MEMBERSHIP OF THE FORUM

Membership of the Forum is open to any organisation or group working solely within the voluntary sector and operating on a not-for-profit basis* that supports the objectives of the Forum as outlined above. Members may attend meetings, presentations and other events and join in discussions about the issues raised.

MEETINGS OF THE FORUM

Subjects at Meetings The agendas of meetings, presentations and other events will relate to issues and policies “affecting the mental health voluntary sector”. We will not use meetings to discuss issues that do not relate to the mental health voluntary sector.

Perspective at Meetings The discussion will focus on the voluntary sector viewpoint on issues and policies. It will not look at user or carer perspectives, statutory sector or private provider perspectives. There are rightly other Forums where these perspectives will be discussed. This does not mean that we do not need to hear, and take account of these perspectives in relation to our work. We are always pleased to involve and listen to our partners who use mental health services or deliver statutory or private mental health services. In addition the nature of the structure and practice of voluntary organisations means that there should always be a systematic involvement of and listening to the voice of people who use those services. All representatives will represent the views of the Southern Derbyshire Voluntary Sector Mental Health Forum membership, setting aside personal or organisational agendas. Representatives will not put forward personal views (unless they clearly state that they are such) and will not purport to represent service users, or providers of statutory sector or private sector mental health services. Where representatives lobby, they will do so on behalf of voluntary sector organisations, taking the Forum position on an issue, not their own personal position.

THE FORUM AND REPRESENTATION

The Forum is often asked to provide representatives to different bodies, both long term and short term. Representatives will be drawn from within membership organisations or volunteers/staff of SDVSMHF selected to represent the views of the membership.

SERVICES TO MEMBERS

Southern Derbyshire Voluntary Sector Mental Health Forum runs the Voluntary Sector Liaison Service. As well as supporting the work of the Forum, this service supports individual organisations with all aspects of organisational development.

The Voluntary Sector Liaison Officer, Angela Kerry, provides this service. It is available to all member organisations that have a voluntary management structure. This can include voluntary sector service providers, self-help groups and voluntary sector representational groups e.g. User Voice, Derbyshire Patients Council, Derbyshire Carers Strategy Group.

The organisational development covers; strategic and business planning advice financial strategy development advice fundraising (hands on support) policy development work promotion of collaborative initiatives between local voluntary sector mental health member groups and organisations. It does not include representational work on behalf of organisations, which is done collectively through the Southern Derbyshire Voluntary Sector Mental Health Forum. *Where organisations have a trading arm, this must covenant all profits back into furthering the objectives of the charitable organisation. Social enterprises are eligible for membership if they are affiliated to or are part of an established registered mental health charity.

SDVSMHF 3rd August 2007

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