social value public services (social value ) act introduced january 2013 requires people who...

Social Value• Public Services (Social Value ) Act introduced January 2013• Requires people who commission public services to think about how they can also provide wider social, economic

and environmental benefits. • Commissioners should consider social value before the procurement starts• A value for money approach - not lowest cost - to assessing contracts• Applies to central government and NHS contracts worth more than £113,057 and local government contracts worth

more than £173,934. It applies to contracts for services but not to those for goods. This is currently being reviewed

Case Study: CroydonCroydon Council went out to tender for a £150 million housing repairs contract. It consulted prospective suppliers to produce innovative ideas that added extra value to the service.The final contract award encompassed social value commitments: • Providing apprenticeship opportunities • Delivering careers advice in schools and offering work experience to NEETs and the long-term unemployed.• Offering mentoring and business support to SMEs in the provider’s supply chain, as well as collaboration

with social enterprises. • Providing volunteering opportunities for staff, allowing them to contribute to local community projects.

Case Study: Gateshead• Troubled Families contract included a commitment to increase the number of voluntary and community

organisations involved in service delivery and a commitment to establishing a sustainable family mentor volunteering programme including opportunities for volunteers to progress into paid employment

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Islington• Scrutiny Review of voluntary and community sector• Procurement Action Plan produced July 2013 and

reviewed March 2014• Commitment to publish a forward plan of opportunities• Guidance for commissioners on social value – this is

subject to review including meetings with the local voluntary and community sector

• Commitment to review annually and include VCS in the process

More information

• http://socialvaluehub.org.uk/• http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/sites/defaul

t/files/social_value_guidance_2014.pdfLocal resources:• http://www.vai.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/0

5/2014-05-12-Forward-plan-April-2014.pdf• http://www.vai.org.uk/services/model-policies-and-

toolkits/toolkits/