Reforming Public Services - views from the voluntary sector

1. Reforming Public Services - views from the voluntary sector Daniel Fluskey National Council for Voluntary Organisations Contact: daniel.fluskey@ncvo-vol.org.uk Evidence|Resources|Policy|Opinion|Signposting: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

2. Outline • Voluntary and community sector (VCS) • Facts and stats • Public services reform • Background/context • Coalition plans • Local practice

3. 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

5. The estimates in this slide pack refer to the voluntary sector only – based on the general charities definition

6. Statutory funding– voluntary sector relationship

7. Some types of organisations are heavily dependent upon statutory income…but most aren’t.

9. 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?

10. Value of the VCS • Social mission • Clear governance • Trusted • Person-centred • Community facing; local • Innovative and flexible

11. 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

12. 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?

13. 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

14. 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

15. What works? • What are your expectations of the VCS? • What are the potential conflicts? • Top tips… be open, be fair