John DawsonCommissioning and Procurement Adviser

NAVCA

introduction to

Commissioning

NAVCA & commissioning…

• Local Commissioning & Procurement Unit• Supporting membership • Communicating to govt. departments• Sharing knowledge• “Intelligent commissioning”

National ‘noise’

• Public services ‘reform’• Commissioning & third sector high profile• Efficiency ► ► ► cuts

– What direction of travel?– Regionalisation or personalisation?

Evolving local government structures

• ‘Devolving power’ & Local Priorities– http://www.localpriorities.communities.gov.uk/ – Local Area Agreements – Local Strategic Partnerships– 188 National Indicators (1-199!) – Comprehensive Area Assessment– Total Place

• New duties – duty to involve / consult• New unitarys

Commissioning…

The whole cycle– The cycle of assessing the needs of people in an

area, designing and then securing an appropriate service

Partnership in Public Services: An action plan for third sector involvement

Understand Plan Do Review

More simply…

DCSF’s Commissioning Support Programme

In theory!

Mixed market of supply

Grants, alongside contracts, have a crucial role and should be used where they are more

appropriate, particularly when building the capacity of partners, piloting new approaches to services and outcomes and in investing specific

projects led by other partners.

CLG’s ‘Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities: Statutory Guidance’

Service design

“Commissioners need external input when designing service specifications, and this is recognised in EU procurement rules…

The onus is on commissioners to look at the different potential providers and not be shy to talk to them in designing service specifications”

Public Administration Select Committee report 13, July 2008

Commissioning of what, by who?

• Open funding ► ► ► identified priorities• Grants ► ► ► contracts?• PCTs / Local authorities etc• Commissioning frameworks• Where is it happening?

In reality…

Local Infrastructure work

• Strategic– Influence & representation

• Developmental– Capacity building

So…..What do you need to know?

How deep?

1. Delivery / influence / already involved / new opportunities / changing relationships

2. What are local priorities & areas of need3. Where next for your organisation & its

mission

Understanding your market• What do YOU do?• Who buys it? – is it a local priority?• Looking forward

– growth or cut backs?• What direction?

– Personalisation or regionalisation?• Competition & scale – are you big enough alone?

Understanding the process• Commissioning frameworks• Grant or procurement process?• Timescales• Paperwork• Relevant policies• What should you look out for?

Making connections

• How do you find out what is happening?

• Do commissioners know you exist & what you do?

• Get early influence

Support from NAVCA

• Tender support package• Advice line• Specialists • Briefings, resources, links• Networking

www.navca.org.uk/lcpu

0114 289 3989

lcpu@navca.org.uk

www.navca.org.uk/signup

twitter.com/lcpu

www.navcaboodle.org.uk