In Liverpool City Region we have found that stakeholders, from across the helix, have very limited capacity to engage in R&D activity. As there is a significant volume of information being communicated across Region about “smart health & care” activity, Liverpool CCG has decided to take a different approach to engagement. Taking an asset-based approach, communication of DISH messages will take place via existing networks/fora/stakeholder groups and their communication. Experience indicates that this approach makes better use of resources, achieves better outcomes and is more likely to be sustainable beyond the life of the project.

For Liverpool partners, DISH compliments other activity underway to transform (and smarten) of our approach to health and care. We are therefore keen to ensure that ITHACA messaging enhances more general communication and engagement.
With this approach in mind, an overview of DISH has been presented to social care stakeholders at 800 Group meeting on 14th February 2019. The 800 Group is a consortium of 8 charities all of which have their headquarters in the Liverpoool City Region.

Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton
Bradbury Fields
Henshaws Society for Blind People
Imagine
Liverpool Mutual Homes
Merseyside Society for Deaf People
Nugent
St Joseph’s Hospice

And associate members:
Irish Community Care
Asylum Link
Mary Seacole House
Merseyside Chinese Association

The name 800 Group derives from the fact that the 8 organisations cumulatively have over 800 years of history of charitable service and work in the social care sector in Merseyside. The 800 Group was formed to provide a platform where the partners can:
Share opportunities and risk
Provide a foundation for joint work
Maximise efficiency opportunities
Identify and develop new markets
increase market share & trading capacity
Raise profile & capacity to influence
Pool resources & expertise

In pursuing these high objectives, the 800 Group has provided a number of tangible benefits to its members:
Successful joint tenders for public sector contracts
Aggregated purchasing which saved the members over £250,000 on purchases last year

And in relation to DISH objectives:

Opportunities for staff with common interests (e.g. HR, Training, Fund-raising etc.) to share knowledge, expertise and good practice as well as resources so as not to reinvent the wheel
Shared training opportunities which reduce costs and mix staff from different agencies to broaden perspectives

The 800 Group was offered the opportunity to contribute to the programme in relation to testing of DISH products

#DISHprojectEU