How can we help the voluntary and community sector to deliver personalised support to those who need it?
Through talking to a wide range of organisations about how to do this, East Sussex County Council and partners are developing a document that brings together all the objectives that we are able to fund the voluntary and community sector to deliver. These are in areas such as choice and control, prevention and social capital. Social capital is about enabling more healthy, active and engaged communities through informal networks where people share information, advice and knowledge that improve lives. The document is called a Commissioning Grants Prospectus.
Before we started work on developing the Commissioning Grants Prospectus, we talked to interested groups about this idea and how we should go about this.
Background information
We have used a local version of the National Audit Office's Successful Commissioning Guide to review our current investment in the voluntary sector. The results will be used to support decision making about including investment in the grant-based commissioning prospectus.
Who took part and what happened
We asked for the views of any interested individuals and groups. The consultation focused on informing voluntary and community organisations about the changes that will be involved, and it sought views on practical questions such as how we develop the Commissioning Prospectus, and how we can support organisations through the application and delivery process.
We explained the changes at relevant meetings, such as Partnership Boards and voluntary sector forums, and special one-off focus groups. A list of these meetings and focus groups is at the foot of this page. We gathered comments from those meetings, the focus groups and the questionnaire below.
The consultation closed on 9 September 2010.
What happens next
The consultation report (below) was recommended to Cabinet in November as part of a wider proposal to use a Commissioning Grants Prospectus to support the role of the voluntary sector in delivering outcomes linked to social capital.
This approach is explained in detail in the Cabinet meeting papers, linked below. It will aim to improve efficiencies by pooling resources across budgets, and avoiding the duplication of processes and investment. It will allow commissioners to negotiate improved efficiencies with potential providers. This approach has been promoted by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) as a model of best practice and offers a competitive and transparent process.
Full details are available in the agenda and minutes:
In February 2011 we launched the Commissioning Grant Prospectus for Health and Social Care.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about the Commissioning Prospectus, the consultation or would like documents in a different format or language please contact Angela Yphantides, Third Sector Development Manager:
Email: angela.yphantides@eastsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 01273 336 599
Post: Third sector commissioning consultation
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East Sussex County Council