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The Action Group CEC Market shaping Strategy 2013-2018 Our thoughts as a Provider. August 2013. General thoughts. I can only speak for The action Group. We welcome a partnership approach. We echo the “thank Goodness it’s not the Care and support tender all over again.”
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The Action GroupCEC Market shaping Strategy 2013-2018Our thoughts as a Provider August 2013
General thoughts • I can only speak for The action Group. • We welcome a partnership approach. • We echo the “thank Goodness it’s not the Care and support tender all over again.” • We appreciate the effort to try to find positive solutions to the challenges ahead. • We welcome that “The changes will apply equally to the services provided by the Council”, and look forward to seeing this happen in practice. • We want to engage in a positive dialogue. • Difficult economic times ahead. • The going may still get tough....more than ever there needs to be true partnership/and an understanding of each Provider’s contribution to the strategy.
The Action Group • Our whole organisational strategy is about individuals being in charge, and being purchasers. • 160+ children and adults who buy 3416 hrs per week of support, groups, camps, holidays etc. from us. • Changed how we do things internally to meet customer need more effectively. • We know we need to do more. But we have achieved much in SDS terms. • We feel confident that users with IB’s and DP’s will continue to want to buy what we offer...and will leave us if we cannot provide what they want. • We see opportunities within this strategy on our own and working with our Group Partner, Ark Housing Association. • Social enterprises....the fact we bring in external funding...autism/dementia services....older people with disabilities ....our Advice services...health and well being support...working with families....etc.
Market shaping strategy thoughts and questions: • Timescale: Final version by October 2013. • Launch: July 2013. • Will there be ongoing reviews? That allow further feedback? • More clarity and detail is needed: • How will CEC “Intervene in the market” what will be the “investment” and “disinvestments” ? • How will CEC “support the business planning of Provider’s so that they in turn can support the strategy” • What will this mean for Organisations, but more importantly, current users, carers and staff of TAG?
Local presence V’s “most providers are too concentrated in the city centre” • We provide services in all areas of the City, where users want or need this. In Edinburgh, one office (Is Easter Rd , City Centre?) • “Evaluate Provider’s best value in respect of property? Insurance? And utility costs?” • How will this be evaluated? What system will be applied? • “Release resources to the front line”...CEC recognises the need for office accommodation for its own staff/functions....what will this mean in reality? • Do we need to “localise” our organisation more? (back to the past?/more cost? • Procurement savings (In CEC 5 year budget ) set to grow from £9m to £50. • How much of these savings are expected to be found from Social care procurement, of current provision?
There is much in the strategy that TAG and other providers, already do/or could do. • We welcome a mature dialogue regarding risk V’s freedom, so that we can have a “Proactive , credible approach to risk management”. “Provider’s risk management has to get better” (C Whelan.) • A move away from a Blame culture: as things do go wrong. • We look forward to our Regulators being involved in this dialogue. • We welcome a move away from Contract compliance and more outcome focused contracting with individuals or CEC.
Social media: we need to get better at this for those current and future users who will engage in this medium. • Working in partnership with the right organisations: how TAG sees our future. • Joint funding/Consortiums/Formal partnerships. • We wish to engage with finding out more detail on the market shaping strategy. • We feel strongly that more time is needed. • To support our business planning, we need greater clarity on: • Disinvestment plans • Investment plans • We welcome this process being a “marathon, not a sprint”: and look forward to more detail and more conversations.