Annual Conference: Cath Gilliver, champion for health and social care

Cath Gilliver is the champion for the health and social care network for the the Third Sector Assembly. Cath is also chief executive of SIFA Fireside, which works with socially excluded and disadvantaged. She chaired a discussion that looked at the implications of the new political landscape on health and social care, which came up with a number of points. In particular, the group talked about the personalisation agenda of social care - that gives individuals their own personal budget to buy in services.

The group thought that a lot more needs to be done around consultation to ensure that the right services are provided - reaching the right people and for the right people.

They also felt that there is an issue around the Independent Safeguarding Authority, which is the new agency that will carry out background checks for those working with vulnerable people. The concern was that non-professional carers will be exempt from the new background checks.

Cath also reflected on what the new political landscape is likely to mean for her own organisation - and the Big Society. Cath pointed out that there's a conflict between the Big Soicety idea and the devolving of cutting decisions down to councils who, as Cath says, may have little choice but to cut funding to some third sector organisations.

But Cath believes the Big Society may present an opportunity to some people in disadvantaged communities to play a fuller part in civic society - even if, at the moment, we still don't entirely know what is going to happen.