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Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner

Information exchange for providers of victims support services

June 2014

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Agenda

10.00: Welcome & introductions10.15: Local commissioning intentions10.50: Needs-led funding, emerging themes11.20: Break (refreshments)11.35: Needs-led provision (table discussions)12.15: Collaboration and commissioning 13.00: Concluding remarks, next steps

Light lunch provided13.30: Close

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LOCAL COMMISSIONING INTENTIONS

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Commissioning Landscape

o Currently MoJ grant fund victim’s services, including Victim Support services.

o From October 2014, MoJ will continue to commission some national services (Homicide Service, Witness Service, Trafficking Service, Rape Support).

o From October 2014, PCCs will be responsible for commissioning specialist victims services.

o From April 2015, PCCs will be responsible for commissioning non-specialist services for victims

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Local services

o Non-specialist service• Thames Valley will commission a ‘referral centre’ function and the

onwards non-specialist support for victims with Surrey and Sussex

o Specialist services• Funding will be directed into frontline services• Transitional grant funding allocated will be on a one-off basis (no

commitment of repeat funding)• The PCC must comply with the EU Directive on Victims

Victims’ Services Commissioning Intentions: PCC report provided

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Total funding availableo First Phase Victims & RJ Grants (May 2014)• Approx. £600,000 grants to support services for victims and

RJ

o Second Phase Victims and RJ Grants (Sept 2014)• Approx. £800,000 grants to support services for victims and

RJ, excluding MoJ ‘top slice’ for non specialist and including PCC commissioning costs

o Third Phase Commissioning (Oct-March for 2015/16)• Approx. £2,467,000 Victims’ Grants (to cover full costs of the

non specialist referral services, RJ and local specialist services

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NEEDS-LED FUNDING

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Needs-led funding

o Outcome-focussed commissioning, for services to achieve high level outcomes, to help victims

• Cope with the initial impact of crime, and• Recover from the harm experienced

o Needs assessment, emerging themes include:• Restorative justice• Domestic violence• Sexual violence and exploitation• Young people’s provision• Counselling provision

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Commissioning“Commissioning is the process of specifying, securing and monitoring services to meet people’s needs at a strategic level. This applies to all services, whether they are provided by the local authority, NHS, other public agencies, or by the private and voluntary sectors.” (Audit Commission)

It is a complex process with responsibilities ranging from assessing local population needs, prioritising outcomes, procuring services to achieve those outcomes and supporting service providers to enable them to deliver outcomes for individual service users and

communities."

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Procurement

Procurement is the technical and legal process involved in acquiring goods, services or other works from an external source

Public bodies must follow a number of rules and regulations when they procure services: EU procurement law and regulation working through UK regulation (the Public Contracts Regulations 2006) and the body’s own policies and procedures

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Grants

A grant is a gift. There is no legal difference between a grant and a donation. Grants can be made by public bodies to support services provided by an organisation. Giving a grant often assumes that the recipient organisation needs subsidy to deliver a service on a self-sustaining basis at the required standard.

The grant must be freely given and the donor receives nothing in return. Grants are outside the scope of VAT. EU rules on public procurement do not apply.

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Contracts

A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between the contractor/purchaser &service provider

o It assumes the provider is a viable, self-sustaining organisation: the purchaser buys an agreed service, at an agreed standard, for an agreed price

o It is a mutual bargain with consideration paid: both purchaser and provider benefit.

o EU rules on public procurement apply.

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NEEDS-LED PROVISIONTABLE DISCUSSIONS

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Guiding principles

o Investing in the capability and understanding the capacity of providers for:

• Thames Valley coverage• Single contract/ leader provider or consortia

o Table discussions:• Partnership working, needs-led in priority area eg.

‘young people’s services’

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COLLABORATION AND COMMISSIONING

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Mixed economy

o Any qualified provider• Private, public and voluntary sector• Small, medium and large• Specialist and generalists• Local regional and national organisations• Solo, partnerships, consortia o Commissioner’s role• To “manage” the market• To animate and connect all available resources

to best meet need

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Market purpose

To meet need, build social value

and improve quality through collaboration

To meet need, reduce costs and improve quality

through competition

Managed market Open market

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Range of VCS players

Large Small

National Local

Specialist Generalist

Service providing Part of community

Funded from state Funded by donations

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Open market

Commissioners

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Prime and sub contractors

CommissionersPrime

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Loose partnership

Commissioners

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Lead agency consortium

Commissioners Lead agency

Consortium or

partnership agreement

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Consortia elsewhere

o More VCS consortia formed or formingo Many as a result of commissioning (i.e. funding driven)o Mixed results (cost/benefit a key consideration)o Howevero A number working well (sufficient lead time, clear

purpose, strong relationships, clear role for consortium, robust consortium agreements)

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Ministry of Justice

MoJ workshop on 8 May 2014o Commissioning landscapeo Understanding procuremento Local contexto Building relationshipso Transition to delivery• Set of background papers, provided

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CONCLUSIONS ANDNEXT STEPS

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Thank you

For further information• http

://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/Partnership/Victims-Services.aspx

Other inquiries• jhopkins@citadelcommunications.co.uk