Reforming Public Services - views from the voluntary sector Daniel Fluskey National Council for Voluntary Organisations Contact: Evidence|Resources|Policy|Opinion|Signposting:

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