Transcript Delivering with the Third Sector: the story so far Carolyn Heaney DH Third Sector programme • ‘Making Partnership Work’ – Strategic Agreement launched in.

Delivering with the Third Sector:
the story so far
Carolyn Heaney
DH Third Sector programme
• ‘Making Partnership Work’ – Strategic Agreement
launched in 2004
• National Strategic Partnership Forum – helped sector
work together facilitate strategic dialogue between the
sectors and inform national policy development
• Third Sector Commissioning Task Force – report ‘No
excuses. Embrace partnership now. Step towards
change!’ – put third sector issues ‘on the policy map’
• Strong impact on HWB Commissioning Framework
Third Sector Commissioning Task Force
Achievements:
– Voice to third sector perspectives
– Put third sector ‘on the map’
– Highlight potential contradictions, opportunities and
risks
– Specific and explicit challenge to all players to
embrace partnership
– Influence and contribution to the reform programme
•
Commissioning framework for health
and
wellbeing
–
6
March
An approach to Commissioning which …
• Is based on systematic needs assessment – individuals,
groups , communities , populations
• Puts people at the centre
• Takes decisions at the right levels
• Uses evidence & information
• Prioritises health improvement & wellbeing
• Targets inequalities in access & health
• Commissions appropriate , responsive and effective services
which sustain people’s health ,dignity & independence
• Offers choice – of provider ,setting, treatment , to self-care
• Provides value for money
• Procures effectively & fairly from a wide range of providers
Towards a fair playing field?
Proposals include :
• Commissioning for outcomes & outputs
• Active market shaping role for PCTs & LAs
• Awareness & understanding of the role & potential contribution of all
providers, including Third Sector (including smaller organisations)
• Transparent and fair procurement
• Better information to help people (including self-funders) choose
• Local provider forum (potential + current)
• Engagement of providers in Strategic Needs Assessment
• Publication of SNA
• Joint review of available providers following SNA – ensure sufficient
range of services & providers to ensure genuine innovation and
choices for users
• Signalling of intentions in PCT Prospectus
Towards a fair playing field?
Government talking explicitly about
• Fair & open procurement and contractual processes which are
proportionate, neutral between different types of providers and
transparent on pricing
• Address ‘full cost recovery’ through transparency on pricing and
allowing providers to frame realistic, economic tenders
• ‘Fair and reasonable trading’ – contract length & risk apportionment
• Encourage entry – using the incentives in the ‘July Commissioning
Framework’
• Clarity about the distinction between grants and legally-binding
contracts & the role each has to play
• National contract template(s) – building on the work of the Third
Sector Commissioning Taskforce
Things going in the right direction?
We think there is much there that sector wanted to hear
Proof of the pudding will be in how commissioners
respond
Need to continue driving the agenda to continue
influencing and shaping the landscape
Make sure we identify and deal with issues that are still
live
Responses to Task Force report
Remaining issues
• Third sector capacity to engage
• Partnerships within third sector
• Investment in potential providers
• Accreditation
• Strategic communication and information sharing
• Practice based commissioning
• Commissioner behaviour and capability
• Buy-in to principles of the Compact
• Contracts – FCR, length of contracts, fair distribution of risk
• Building a body of hard evidence of sector’s value
• Relationship between grants and contracts
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
Janet Lewis, Chief Executive Base 51
www.base51.org.uk
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
Voluntary Sector organisation
providing easy access to:
• Medical Services
• Counselling
• Housing Support
• Under 18’s Learning Support
• Family Support
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
• Multi-disciplinary team
• Services around the young person
• Partnership working with statutory and
VCS organisations
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
Current funding:
• Local Authority
• PCT
• NRF
• Trust Funds
• Connexions
• Comic Relief
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
A mixture of:
• Grants
• Contracts
• Some are for 3 years, but often
1 year funding streams
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
Commissioning framework for health
and well-being- first impressions….
• Potentially good for the voluntary sector – this is
how we work, services with the person at the centre
• Involvement of the VCS in needs assessment
• Emphasis on well-being, social support part of the
NHS as well as the Local Authority
• Greater understanding of all providers, including
VCS
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
• Preventative agenda i.e. a healthy start in life
• Market entry for third sector providers
• Commissioning – more proactive, investing for
prevention, independence and well-being
• PCTs and practice based commissioners
spending NHS funds on non- health interventions
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
Concerns…
• Smaller organisations being ready for
commissioning
• Partnerships/consortia
• VCS organisations may not survive the
current financial deficits
• More “must do’s” rather than “should”
Centre for Young People aged 12 – 25 years
• How do we involve the local VCS in
commissioning?
• Third sector isn’t a cheap option!
• Learn from Children’s Services