Information for Groups around Commissioning & Procurement - Introduction

Are you an existing or potential provider of services?

Many Third Sector organisations provide services to the community. Often these are funded by grants, fundraising activities or user donations.

Where there is a specific, identified need for services there are opportunities to secure funding from Councils, PCTs, DWP etc.

By using the menu in the left hand column you can access a wide range of resources to help you tender for work available. Alternatively you may wish to attend our training sessions. Details can be found in the Training Programme or by calling 01924 239063.

The following provide background reading for organisations interested in learning more about policy development and changes.

Understanding commissioning for voluntary and community organisations (2^nd Edition Report)

This documentprovides an easy to use guide and workbook to help organisations to develop and to be ready for the challenges of the months and years to come. This report will be of interest to third sector organisations and public sector agencies. 

Download from: http://www.swdc.org.uk/news/understanding-commissioning-for-voluntary-and-community-organisations-2nd-edition/

NHS Publications - Policy and Guidance

Summary of the Next Stage Review and how the third sector can be involved in local planning and service delivery.

Download from http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_091821

Public services and the third sector : rhetoric and reality (report)

Government is commissioning ever more public service delivery from organisations in the third sector - charities and other not for profit organisations, as well as social enterprises. This report attempts to assess the impact of that policy approach, in particular looking not just at the effect on government and on the sector, but more importantly the effect on service users and the public at large. July 2008

Download from http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmpubadm/112/112.pdf

Welcoming social enterprise into health and social care (resource pack)

This resource pack offers both those wanting to start and those already operating a social enterprise a useful gateway to important information needed to set up or expand service in health and social care. This resource pack is also useful to commissioners who want to contract with social enterprises. There are also resource packs for each English region. Nov 2007

Download from http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_072928

Evaluation of the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning: consultation with BME third sector organisations (report)

The baseline survey was sent to a wide range of third sector organisations (TSOs) but findings could not be analysed by ethnicity. Discussion of initial baseline findings with stakeholders showed that this was likely to be important, so additional research was organised with TSOs working with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in order to supplement the baseline. In a focus group, BME TSOs' current experiences of commissioning and whether any additional barriers or difficulties exist around their involvement in commissioning was explored. 

Download from http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/aio/8458905

Integration for social enterprise

This report underlines the potential support various models of social enterprise can offer other key Governemnt health policies - such as personalisation, integration and choice. Nov 07

Download from www.dhcarenetwork.org.uk/_library/Social_Enterprise.pdf  

The future of commissioning: leadership challenges (Report)

This report focuses on behaviours and attitudes and gives many examples of how third sector leaders and commissioners can work together effectively in order to design and deliver excellent public services which really address the needs of the user and which develop the organisation. Aug 07 ACEVO

Download from http://www.acevo.org.uk/Page.aspx?pid=191&nccsm=15&__nccscid=6&__nccsct=Discounted+Publications