Volunteers and Voluntary Sector SIG

The WHO (Organization, 2006) defined health workers as “all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health” and includes volunteers in this definition. NSAs are an essential part of health and social care delivery around the world. As the literature focused on integrated care begins to grow, so too does the attention given to the role of NSAs. What remains unclear is the type, nature and extent of the relationship these actors have with the state. Using the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care, this community of interest seeks to understand and explore the relationship between NSAs/NSPs and the state in the provision of integrated care, and to set a common vision for this partnership.

With such an extensive array of typologies used to refer to non-state entities, this community will also seek to distinguish and clarify these according to the type and level of service they support, and the way in which they relate to the state.