IS THE procurement and commissioning environment one which you are having difficulty accessing?

Take note, any organisation, whether private, public or third sector currently delivering services in health, social care and specifically, care of the elderly in Torbay or with intentions to become a service provider in the near future.

Torbay Care Trust has engineered the creation of a multi provider forum in which the CVA is to play a substantial role in communication, co-ordination and supporting membership.

This is not a commissioning framework but is a multi-discipline service provider membership forum, an opportunity for networking, for sharing information and for influencing the structures, form and quality of services in the future.

We will have opportunities to create shared training and resource, particularly around helping smaller organisations become 'tender ready' which may involve enhancing relevant vocational training or specific support preparing for submission of tendering documents and related processes.

There will be work to ensure providers from all sectors are kept updated about new developments, standards and performance monitoring or inspection regimes.

There is expectation the forum will enable real understanding of the market place and of user needs.

It will also create capacity for integrated and partnership application, provide consistency, professionalism, quality assurance and, importantly, third sector voice in the procurement environment.

Hence third sector service providers achieve opportunity for equitable access to influencing specification, to collaboration with private and public sector organisations and, hopefully, the securing of contracts as the market place changes.

This is an exciting development for Torbay. It is inclusive, partnership focused, and will provide for a culture of improvement and shared responsibility for quality in the delivery of services.

We are currently involved in putting the structure in place and are looking to go live as soon as possible. Watch for announcements on the CVATorcom website where there will be a specific page dedicated to the forum.

A NEW group for people recovering from an addiction in Torbay has doubled its numbers in just a few months and hopes to grow even further.

Torbay Open Recovery Community is run by people who have been, and still are, in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictions. It provides a safe place for them to meet others in a similar situation.

"People often think they are the only ones going through it," said Dougie Anderson who is on the TORC steering group. "This is a chance for them to get together with like-minded people for general support and someone to talk to."

TORC began a few months ago and from ten people attending, has gone up to 20. People can drop in as and when they like between 11am and 4pm on Fridays at the Cool House in Morgan Avenue, Torquay.

Within the session is an hour-long peer support group in which people can talk about how their week has been and if any problems have surfaced.

Tea and coffee is provided and group members can bring their own food as there are kitchen facilities.

One of the activities TORC would like to get off the ground is an art group and is appealing for help, especially from those who have expertise in this area.

"Every time some one new turns up, they bring with them a lifetime of experiences, strengths and hope to everyone here, which we value very much," said the TORC member.

February and March hold important dates in the TORC calendar, as it is Recovery Month, stretching from the last week of February and first three weeks of March. The group will be getting involved with other recovery organisations in the Bay to promote local events.

Anyone interested in joining and helping TORC can contact Dougie Anderson on 07887 678832, email andersondouglas795@gmail.com.