For the past decade, the Social Value Act has given public authorities a legal responsibility to contribute to the social, environmental and economic sustainability of their communities, and society as a whole.
The need to adhere to recent legislative shifts in procurement, combined with the NHS’s ambition to become the world’s first net zero health system, has placed social value high on the list of ‘must dos’ for Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).
As part of the NHS family, Arden & GEM is committed to playing our part in achieving a fairer, better, greener health and care system through pioneering the aims and principles of social value. Our social value and sustainability support can be tailored to meet your bespoke needs, reflect where you are in your social value journey and complement your existing programmes of work.
Membership of the Social Value Network
The Social Value Network has been established by NHS Arden & GEM to support systems and organisations in defining and delivering their social value ambitions through membership of a collaborative network with access to expertise, knowledge, tools and resources.
An annual subscription enables members to access and share knowledge and best practice through:
- Members only meetings and events
- The ‘Vault’ – an online platform to collaborate with colleagues on social value tools, templates and resources
- CPD accredited e-learning modules
- Social value expertise from our Advisory Board
- Mentoring and peer learning.
By forming a network, we can grow and share skills and experience within the NHS – and the wider public sector – which enables us to invest in our people, invest in our communities and invest in our planet.
Find out more about the Social Value Network on our dedicated website.
Strategy and Consultancy Services
Our strategy and consulting offer is designed to support organisations and systems in making progress against the five areas of the national Themes, Outcomes and Measures (TOMs) methodology, developed by the Social Value Portal: jobs, growth, social, environment and innovation.
This can include:
- Coaching and mentoring support for leadership teams
- Strategy and action plan development for sustainability, carbon reduction, social value and anchor institutes
- Stakeholder engagement and reporting
- Multidisciplinary delivery support against each theme – click here to learn more
- Support to achieve the Social Value Quality Mark Health Award.
Social Value in Health Excellence Programme
We have partnered with Social Value Quality Mark CIC and Social Value Portal to develop an integrated, best-in-class approach to planning, measuring and accrediting social value.
The Social Value in Health Excellence Programme has been designed to address the bespoke needs of the NHS and its suppliers by encouraging collaboration, enhancing care and tackling inequality. The programme includes:
- Expert planning and consultancy from our social value team
- Tailored impact measurement by Social Value Portal using the TOM system
- Accreditation via the Social Value Quality Mark Health Award, the UK’s national standard in social value
- Access to CPD accredited learning
- Membership of the Social Value Network.
Social Value Quality Mark Health Award
We have worked with Social Value Quality Mark CIC, a leader in social value standards, to design and develop the first UK-wide social value accreditation bespoke to the health sector.
The Social Value Quality Mark Health:
- reflects national health and care policy
- responds to the needs, challenges and opportunities of the industry
- distinguishes ethical, sustainable suppliers
- recognises commitment to staff health and wellbeing
- independently verifies progress against carbon reduction plans.
If you are interested in applying for the Social Value Quality Mark Health, please visit this website and quote referral code NHSAG in your application.
Why Arden & GEM?
- As part of the NHS family, we fully understand national context, regulatory environments and local challenges
- Our 1,200 strong multidisciplinary team brings together experts with a proven, track record of delivering strategic and operational support
- Our dynamic network of credible, trusted partners provides specialist skills and capability
- We have successfully pioneered social value and sustainability initiatives across the heath and care system for the past 10 years.
Please get in touch via agem.socialvalue@nhs.net to discuss how together we can meet net zero ambitions and achieve community benefits through a social value approach that puts people at its heart.
Join our FutureNHS workspace for more information and to access free resources.
RELEVANT READING
Find out more about our social value and sustainability approach and expertise in the content below.
Finalists for the Investors in People Health and Wellbeing Award
Arden & GEM has been shortlisted in the Health and Wellbeing category at the Investors in People Awards 2024.
CPD accredited social value training now available from Arden & GEM
The CPD Standards Office has accredited the first in a series of social value e-learning modules developed by Arden & GEM.
How Integrated Care Systems can benefit from a strategic, system-wide approach to social value
Becky Jones, our Social Value and Sustainability Lead, looks at the major role social value could play in tackling our most pressing health and social care challenges if ICSs adopt a more cohesive and proactive approach in this latest article for Integrated Care Journal.
Key learnings from the ‘Pioneering Sustainable Healthcare’ webinar
On 19 September 2024, colleagues from across the health and care sector came together as part of a 90 minute webinar to learn from sustainability experts and hear more about a new tool designed to assist the NHS in meeting its goal of becoming the world’s first net zero health service.
Arden & GEM awarded ‘We invest in wellbeing’ Platinum accreditation
NHS Arden & GEM has become just the third organisation in the UK to achieve ‘We invest in wellbeing’ Platinum accreditation following an assessment by Investors in People.
Helping healthcare organisations to achieve their social value commitments through a new excellence programme
An exciting approach to a new programme for delivering social value in the healthcare sector was unveiled at a webinar on 16 July 2024.
Webinar: Introducing the Social Value in Health Excellence Programme
If your healthcare organisation wants to quickly advance its social value position then register for our 'Introducing the Social Value in Health Excellence Programme' webinar on Tuesday 16 July at 2pm.
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB joins Social Value Network as part of commitment to addressing health inequalities
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) has joined the national Social Value Network, hosted by NHS Arden & GEM, as part of its ongoing commitment to deliver social value in the services it commissions.
The role and relevance of social value in transforming the NHS
Professionals from across the health and social care sector were brought together by NHS Arden & GEM on Wednesday 6 March 2024 to unpick the role of social value in moving to a preventative, collaborative and resilient healthcare system.
Webinar: How to be successful in implementing green initiatives to reach net zero
On 27 February 2024, Arden & GEM hosted an engaging and passionate webinar focused on the NHS Green Plan.