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The Commissioning Agenda and the New Role for Councillors
James ReesTSRC
What is commissioning?Procurement
• Discussion and decision about whether to make or buy
• Purchasing• Contracting
Commissioning
Source: Institute of Purchasing Care
Strategic Commissioning
Outcomes Commissioning
‘World Class’ Commissioning
Joint Commissioning
Intelligent Commissioning
• Best outcomes for users
• Value for money services
• Partnership working with third sector and service users
AnalysisTSOs input
MonitoringInvolve service users
Delivery /Procurement
PlanningShape services
Intelligent commissioning
Source: NAVCA
But!
• Commissioning is too often synonymous with Procurement
• Real diversity in practice between places, and within councils
• Theory is that TSOs are involved in all the stages, but in practice… are they?
Competition?
Changes since the 2010 election
• Remember the Big Society?• Increasingly urgent push to reshape public services• Deficit reduction / efficiency• Diversifying and shaping the market• Open Public Services White Paper (July 2011)
– Hierarchy of commissioned services….
“our vision is for public services that revolve around each of us”
Choice Diversity of providers Decentralisation
‘Commissioned’
Neighbourhood
Individual Health & social care
Housing Services
Criminal Justice
Employment Services Accountability
Fairness
Diversity
Decentralisation
Choice
TSRC research
Partnership working
What does the third sector offer?
• Understanding clients/user groups• Closer to communities• Trusted by users • Values and mission• Innovative
• Well known mantra but not so well evidenced!
Through the looking glass(es)
Public sectorlooks ‘out’ and sees
• Fragmented and confusing third sector• Lack of professionalism?
Third sectorlooks ‘up’ and sees
• Bureaucracy and silos• Lack of understanding of what 3S offers
Third sector not ‘commissioning ready’
Public sector not ‘partnership ready’
The sticking points
1 Improve mutual understanding– Better information and communication?
2 TSOs in the commissioning cycle– A vicious cycle? Underfunded so under-radar– TSOs need to be strategic for their area/users– AND confident in what they offer– AND, evidence it!
What should councillors ask?• Is the Local Authority’s approach coherent?• Are there pockets of good and bad practice?• Are decision-making and governance
approaches appropriate?• Is there sufficient oversight of commissioning
in general?And the hard one:• Is there a LA role for amplifying the third
sector strategic role in commissioning in straightened times?
More info about TSRC research
Service Delivery:www.tsrc.ac.ukTab: Research>Service Delivery
Contact James Rees
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