Joined at the hip? Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, the voluntary and community sector and lessons in partnership working

摘要

Why have not-for-profit organizations turned to one another to share tips on the most practical routes for influencing Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNA)? Are we beginning to see a grow ing public interest in JSNA, or at least their potential to highlight and address the diverse health needs of whole populations? Based on recent evidence, that could be the case; the question then is what does this mean for shaping public health?Original guidance on JSNA stated that "community engagement is an essential element of JSNA.. .the process, will in itself, have a positive impact on health and wellbeing".1 Unfortunately, four years later effective engagement with the voluntary and community sector remains an aspiration in many areas.