Mandy Forrest VAS/ Anne Giller SCC

Commissioning for the Terrified

Objectives of this session

• To gain an understanding of what commissioning is

• To understand how local public bodies- particularly Sheffield City Council- intend to commission

• To consider the implications for your organisation

• To begin to action plan to prepare for commissioning

Who are commissioners?

There are more of them than you think!• Sheffield City Council- different areas• NHS Sheffield• Individuals- self directed care• Dept of Justice• DASS• Lottery• The Arts Council• Etc, etc.

What Commissioning is What Commissioning is not

Commissioning is a continuous process through which Commissioners identify need; plan, source, deliver and performance manage activity

Commissioning is not about:-•Asking someone to do something for you•Delegating a task or action

Commissioning takes place at different levels such as strategic, locality, individual

Commissioning is not about the actual buying of goods, works or services (it is about identifying whether there is a need to do this)

Commissioning can take place jointly with other agencies such as health

Commissioning is not procurement. Procurement is one outcome of commissioning

Commissioning in the Council

• Something the Council has always done but wants to do better.

• ‘Best Way Approach’ that provides:– Best outcomes for local citizens,– Best value for money.

• Necessary given changing role of local authorities.

Council wide approach

• Produced a framework to set out the overall principles (on Council website).

• Guiding principle is to be equitable, transparent and involve all stakeholders.

• Expected to follow a structured approach to the planning, design and delivery of services (new and existing).

• Responsibility of Commissioning Officers and all Council staff.

Sheffield Model • Shopping: - Where the Council can clearly define that

it wishes to buy a service to be delivered on its behalf and uses an open Competitive Procurement Process.

• Investing: Where the Council is looking for new or innovative ways to improve on current practice, or an organisation is approaching the Council for support to develop a new or innovative service.

• Giving: Where there is not an established market and the Council wishes to support the services or activities of a voluntary or community sector organisation that meets a particular priority theme, but is not directing those services or activities via a service specification.

Commissioning Cycle 1

• Shaping** – deciding that you need to commission something in the first place.

• Needs analysis** – researching the need/ gaps.• Reviewing relevant legislation.• Benchmarking.**• Mapping existing resources.**• Begin Equality Impact Assessment. **

** Consultation is key at all stages

Commissioning Cycle 2• Options appraisal – deciding how best to deliver the service:

– In-house– External provider– Procurement through tender– Grant process

• Produce Commissioning Strategy**– Review Equality Impact Assessment– Identify outcomes– Formal permission to implement

• Service design** – deciding what services you require to meet the outcomes.

• Reviewing and monitoring the service delivery.• Recommissioning / Decommissioning.

Group exercise 1How relevant does this feel to me/ my organisation?How do I think commissioning will affect my organisation?Do we have the skills and experience to deal with this?

Type of org details Amount of support needed

Unaffected Not currently involved in the local commissioning environment, generally unaffected by it, both now and future

none

unaware No knowledge or awareness of local commissioning but need to know Some?*

Interested Not currently involved in commissioning but interested in finding out what its about

Some?*

shaper Not currently interested in delivering services to public bodies (eg may be too small to handle bidding and contracting) but interested in influencing some commissioning

More? **

future provider not currently providing services to public bodies, but would like to do so. Could deliver some services through sub- contracting. Probably interested in influencing local priorities and services

Most?***

provider Currently providing some small scale services, would like to continue to provide more

Most?***

Currently providing some services, future unstable eg changing priorities, grants moving to contracts

Most?***

Currently providing services, well equipped to deal with future commissioning Some?*

Preparing for the futureWhat do organisations need to do to prepare for

the new world?

• Develop service offer?• Describe the outcomes and added/ social value?• Skills and knowledge?- capability • Quality standards and measures?• Governance arrangements?• Financial arrangements?• Sufficient capacity to deliver?

Group Exercise 2Preparing for the future

Action Planning

• What information do we need?• What relationships do we need to build up with

commissioners?• What relationships do we need to build up with

the sector?• What support and training do we need?• Who can help us?