What is the Third Sector Provider Forum?

Section 16 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to promote a strong, community-based care and support offer. In practice, this means supporting not-for-private-profit providers and ensuring people who need care and support (and carers) help shape services.

1. Promote the development of social enterprises in the area to provide care and support and preventative services.

2. Promote the development of co-operative organisations or arrangements to provide care and support and preventative services.

3. Promote co-production by involving people who use services (and carers) in the design and operation of care and support and preventative services.

4. Promote the availability of care and support and preventative services from third sector organisations (including where they are not social enterprises or co-operatives).

Overall, Section 16 supports a diverse, values-led care and support landscape that is built with people and rooted in local communities. 

The Gwent Third Sector Provider Forum brings commissioners, third sector organisations and partners together to strengthen local care and support, with a focus on well-being, prevention and early intervention, and a diverse range of community-based services. It builds on the previous Provider Forum and Third Sector Collaborative Forums held across Gwent.

The Forum supports the duty in Section 16 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 by creating space to:

1. Support the growth of social enterprises, co-operatives and other not-for-private-profit models delivering care and support and preventative services.

2. Strengthen co-production by sharing approaches that involve people who use services (and carers) in design and delivery.

3. Improve the availability and sustainability of third sector care and support and preventative services across Gwent.

4. Identify shared obstacles, opportunities and priorities, including relevant funding and collaboration opportunities

Why Join?

The forum meets on a quarterly basis and is jointly delivered by the Gwent Regional Partnership Board, GAVO and TVA.
While being an opportunity for commissioners and providers to share valuable information and identify areas where they can work together, it also gives providers an opportunity to link with others and offer collaboration where possible. The forum also links closely to Gwent Regional Partnership Board through provider forum representatives in GAVO and TVA./p>

What is on the agenda for the Third Sector Provider Forums?

1. Improving Care: We're focused on making people feel better and being more eco-friendly.

2. Balancing the Care Market: We want to have a variety of different care services.

Who should attend the Third Sector Provider Forum?

The main members of the Forum will be local and regional leaders and all care and support providers in the area. These providers can be social enterprises, cooperatives, user-led organisations, or third sector organisations. Also, Section 16 organisations that aren’t care providers yet but want to be, can join too.

Leaders and Section 16 organisations use the Forum to talk openly. It’s a great place to discuss challenges, risks, and opportunities in local communities and the region. Members will find the Forum a place for support, learning, and sharing good practices. It’s all about helping each other to provide services that match the goals of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act.

There is also a steering group that organizes the Third Sector Provider Forums. If you are a provider or a citizen interested in helping to plan these meetings, please contact: Hannah.dean@torfaen.gov.uk