Luton Sexual Health (LSH) is proud to be the first NHS Sexual Health service to attain the Social Value Quality Mark (SVQM) Level 1.
The purpose of the Quality Mark is to cultivate and recognise the highest known standards in values-led business, and highlight how such an approach benefits clients, communities and the planet. It is one of the most rigorously tested standards of its kind in the UK.
There are four accreditation levels, each acknowledging a demonstrably increasing commitment. To achieve the Level 1 award, Luton Sexual Health made seven Social Value Pledges, all aimed at supporting improved outcomes on an organisational, individual, and wider socio-economic level, across the whole local community.
Two key pledges focus around Social and Community inclusion, and professional Education and Skills development in Luton.
LSH has pledged to deliver a range of Outreach activities to improve access and inclusivity, including 40 Pop Up clinics in non-traditional community settings over the coming year.
Similarly, the development of local allied professionals’ skills, competence and confidence to respond to the sexual health needs of their clients, is being supported by the creation and rolling out of 10 highly specialised eLearning modules.
Jenny Melrose, Operations Lead at Luton Sexual Health said: “For us, social value means maximising the impact and benefit of the interventions and education delivered by LSH to the local community, the environment and wider society.
“This is a really exciting time for us and we are thrilled to have received the SVQM Level 1. The LSH Team is committed to delivering on our current and future pledges – this is just the beginning.”
Richard Dickins, MD of Social Value Quality Mark CiC, said: “This award recognises Luton Sexual Health’s outstanding commitment to create, report and embed social value. We are delighted to remain their social value partner as they move through up through the levels.”
Luton Sexual Health’s pledges
Environmental
In alignment to the aims of the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Green Plan (2021)
Reduce carbon emissions and minimise waste, contributing to the aims of becoming net zero and improving wider local population health.
Economic
Reduce the impact upon wider health, social care, and community services through specific universal and/or targeted sexual health interventions in Luton.
Health and Wellbeing
Enable local people to change behaviour, make better and more positive decisions around their own sexual health and to increase access to information that enables effective self-management.
Education and Skills
Advise, educate, upskill, and collaborate with key local partner agencies and medical professionals, to enable them to recognise diverse Sexual Health needs and involvement in risky sexual behaviours, enabling them to intervene appropriately, both directly and through referral to LSH.
Employment and Volunteering
Employ a local team of Staff and Volunteers who reflect the diverse nature of our service users, to raise awareness of our services and to promote inclusion and access for all.
Social and Community
Connect with vulnerable people/service users from diverse backgrounds and disaffected local communities through inclusive Outreach and Health Promotion, to improve access to LSH.
Innovation
Identify new ways of supporting clients by targeting gaps in community service provision and responding to the changing, or newly apparent sexual health needs of our local communities.