Reforming Public Services - views from the voluntary sector Daniel Fluskey National Council for...
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Transcript of Reforming Public Services - views from the voluntary sector Daniel Fluskey National Council for...
Reforming Public Services - views from the voluntary sector
Daniel FluskeyNational Council for Voluntary Organisations
Contact: [email protected] Evidence|Resources|Policy|Opinion|Signposting: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Outline
• Voluntary and community sector (VCS)– Facts and stats
• Public services reform– Background/context– Coalition plans
• Local practice
Civil Society is‘people acting together, independently of the state or the
market, to make a positive difference to their lives and/or the lives of others’ – NCVO
Voluntary and community sector is‘the accumulation of charities, local community groups and
individuals responding to social needs’ – NCVO
The estimates in this slide pack refer to the voluntary sector only – based on the general charities definition
Statutory funding– voluntary sector relationship
Some types of organisations are heavily dependent upon statutory income…but most aren’t.
Public services
• The role of the VCS– Voice– Identify need– Commissioning/shaping services– Delivery and evaluation
• Where is the sector involved?• How is the sector involved?
Value of the VCS
• Social mission• Clear governance • Trusted• Person-centred• Community facing; local• Innovative and flexible
Public services • Changing landscape– OPSWP– Commissioning – Fiscal constraints driving change?
• Challenges– Payment by results– Lack of level playing field– Unmanaged competition– Cultural barriers – Structural barriers: public sector, size of contracts
OPSWP
• Framed around key principles• Competition, choice and diversity • Accountability and transparency • Social value • Finance and payment by results (PbR) • Structural changes in the public sector • What are ‘open’ public services?
Issues from our member• 1. Developing a council-wide strategy : (design and/or delivery) Consistency
across departments, auditing existing local VCS motivation and capacity, opportunities for building capacity, balance of meaningful involvement in commissioning without biasing future delivery
• 2. Choosing appropriate procurement models: Levels for quotations and tenders, examples of misapplied EU regulations, transparency & non-discriminations in procurement
• 3. Managing risk, liabilities & ensuring accountability in contracts and relationships
• 4. Balancing price & quality: understanding evidence around social return on investment; evidence-based decisions and evaluating value & outcomes
Example of good relationships• Bristol City Council – Improving Commissioning
– Effective network of Compact champions– ‘Mixed economy’ (commissioning, competitive
processes and direct grant-funding)– Comprehensive training programme– Mandatory involvement of the VCS in all stages of
the commissioning cycle – Capacity Building and improving communications
– VCS Task Group • Chaired by CEO • Commissioning, Perfromance, Right to Buy and Right to
Challenge
What works?
• What are your expectations of the VCS?
• What are the potential conflicts?
• Top tips… be open, be fair