This discussion is interesting. But I think that the limitations of thevoluntary sector need to be revisited. There are many but one of which is the
notion of choice. The voluntary sector is often said by politicians and policy
makers to produce choice for consumers. It is often argued that voluntary
services are able to respond to different consumer needs in cultural, religious
and ethnic terms. However if voluntary agencies are to decide independently
where they will provide services, and if they rely on charitable sources, it
may be that the service is concentrated on areas with least need and most
resources. The people with the money and skills to give to voluntary agencies
may not be in direct touch with the most disadvantaged. There are examples of
established voluntary agencies organising Christmas parcels or seaside outings
for the young elderly while making no provision for the isolated and frail
elderly.
On the other hand, it may be that government funding will support voluntary
agencies to set up in line with statutory priorities. This funding may be
dependent on certain standards and policies laid down by statutory authorities
and can lead to what Di Maggio and Powell call "coerced isomorphism". These
forms of public subsidy may require greater similarity between services rather
than variety and therefore choice is sometimes restricted.
Although choice can be provided by voluntary services it may be that users
do not want to choose voluntary sector provision. A number of studies have
indicated that users of a range of care services find it easier to accept help
from statutory services and trained professional people rather than receive
charitable help from voluntary agencies.
Malcolm Todd
Lecturer in Sociology
School of Social Science and Law
Sheffield Hallam University
Collegiate Crescent Campus
Sheffield
S10 2BP
Tel: 0114 225 2425
Fax: 0114 225 2430
E.mail: [log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] writes:
>Perhaps a view from the statutory sector would help this debate along. In
>the NHS, where I work, the value of the voluntary sector is that they
>provide services that patients and service users value, but which are not
>provided by the health service.
>
>They are not provided for a number of reasons. Time and resources are
>relevant ones, but perhaps more important, they represent a different
>concept of the needs of the patient than is admitted within the health
>service, dominated as it is by the medical profession. As a population, we
>need both the medical response and the human/empathetic response provided by
>voluntary sector groups.
>
>Mike Shepherd
>Avon Health Authority
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Linda Asquith [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 21 February 2001 21:15
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Voluntary sector
>
>
>I would like to respond to a few of Tim's points, if I may...
>1. I ask that the work that I do is recognised as valuable and time
>consuming, and quite often as difficult as the professional's work, by the
>provision of training and team support. Employed people are
>given training and support, shouldn't volunteers too, if they are to do
>their job effectively? If an employee uses their car or public transport on
>business use, they are compensated. Why shouldn't volunteers be similarly
>compensated?
>
>2. I do not agree with Tim's point that VS erode society and that there
>are services already provided by the statutory sector. As I said in my
>previous email, if this were so, then there wouldn't be the need for most
>voluntary sector groups. If government cannot provide the resources for
>statutory organisations to meet the need of everybody, then VS groups have
>to take over that provision.
>
>3. With respect to accountability, is accountability to government any
>better? One of the best things about VS groups is their ability to be a
>great deal more flexible and respond to needs quicker, which is extremely
>difficult within the statutory sector because of the layers of beauracracy
>to go through for even simple things.
>
>4. Tim states that it is not clear what achievements the VS has given. I
>suggest he speaks to any of the elderly people who benefit from groups who
>provide a befriending service, or any of the people that I (or any other
>prison visitor) has supported whilst they were in prison. Not all benefits
>of services can be written down in neat little boxes to correspond to KPI's
>or SLA's or any other anachronisms. Would Tim like to see "a 10% increase in
>happiness for the duration of the project" as a KPI? Yes, you can measure
>secondary effects punitively, as Sure Start does, for example: By providing
>a family support service, we aim to reduce children on the at risk register
>by x% While giving support and advice on healthy eating and smoking
>cessation in pregnancy we look to reduce the incidence of low birth weights.
>But you cannot measure someone's happiness or general well being with
>numbers.
>
>5. Tim seems to be saying that he would be happy to pay for any service
>as long as it was provided by the statutory sector. I hope he is equally as
>happy with the increase in taxation that would happen as a result.
>
>6. Voluntary Services exist because there is a demand for them, pure and
>simple.
>
>7. Admittedly, some VS advocates may sound like they are moaning and
>whinging, but if you had to fight for every penny your organisation
>received, I would like to bet that anyone would sound like that.
>
>8. On a final note, I would like to ask Tim what experience he has of the
>voluntary sector, as his argument sounds a little academic in this respect.
>
>Thanks for reading...If you did read this!
>
>Linda Asquith
>
>Mature Criminal Justice student
>Volunteer Prison Visitor
>Volunteer Parent Representative for Sure Start Bramley
>Parent to 3 children!
>
>
>This e-mail is not intended nor shall it be taken to create any legal
>relations, contractual or otherwise.
>
>This e-mail is communicated in confidence. It is intended for the recipient
>only and may not be disclosed further without the express consent of the
>sender.
>
Malcolm Todd
Lecturer in Sociology
School of Social Science and Law
Sheffield Hallam University
Collegiate Crescent Campus
Sheffield
S10 2BP
Tel: 0114 225 2425
Fax: 0114 225 2430
E.mail: [log in to unmask]
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