Improving strategic commissioning in the culture and sport sector

• Understanding commissioning
• Understanding strategic commissioning learning events
• Creating better outcomes for children and young people by improving the commissioning of cultural services

Understanding commissioning

The sharper focus on outcomes is leading to the reorientation of public services around a ’commissioning model‘. In some services, such as adult social care and health, a commissioning model has been in place for many years. Its arrival in children’s services, learning and skills, offender management, and other public services is more recent.

Local Government Improvement and Development (formerly IDeA) has published a new guide designed to help people in the culture and sport sector understand the process of strategic commissioning in public services and how to engage in it to produce better outcomes for communities.

The document is designed to help those working in the sector:

• influence and engage in strategic commissioning corporately and within the local strategic partnership where culture and sport has a significant contribution to make
• commission culture and sport services to deliver these outcomes at the operational level.

It aims to provide culture and sport organisations with greater understanding of strategic commissioning, the opportunities and challenges, and some tools to operate more effectively in the context of modern public service delivery.

We have also developed a series of guidance documents to supplement the guide.

Understanding commissioning: a practical guide for the culture and sport sector

Understanding strategic commissioning learning events

Support to heads of culture and sport

We are running three free residential events to help heads of service understand the issues that strategic commissioning raises for them in their role. In particular, the events will consider the leadership required to achieve the necessary changes in delivery arrangements and build the effective relationships with commissioners and third sector partners.

Each event will be based on the new ‘Understanding commissioning’ guidance document including:

• knowledge and understanding of commissioning
• a deeper appreciation of what this means for the role of head of culture and sport
• how to build relationships with commissioners
• how to building capacity and relationships across the spectrum of providers
• personal reflection and planning.

The event details are:

1. 8-9 September 2010, Leicester
2. 15-16 September 2010, Chelmsford
3. 22-23 September 2010, York

Space are limited. To express an interest, email your name, job role, organisation and contact details to georgina.siddall@local.gov.uk

Making the right choices: your service delivery options

Culture and sport plays a significant role in people’s lives and in the communities in which they live. It supports the health, environmental and community safety agendas.

Customer expectations are rising at the same time as a need for demonstrable efficiency savings and value for money, and likely cuts in non-statutory services. This will provide a challenge as well as an opportunity for those involved in the political, strategic and operational delivery of services.

Four one-day events on option appraisal are being held. Two are aimed at lead elected members and two at heads of service considering alternative delivery arrangements for their culture and sport services.

Each training session will:

• link the vision to the service delivery options
• identify what service delivery vehicles are available and what is best for you
• outline the criteria for choosing the best option
• show you how to move towards it.

For members:

• 4 October 2010, London
• 14 October 2010, York

For officers:

• 1 November 2010, London
• 10 November 2010, York

For further information or to book a place contact:

Kerry Swanson
email: skills@localpartnerships.org.uk
telephone: 0207 296 6670

Commissioning the third sector

LG Improvement and Development has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) to deliver comprehensive, free training courses aimed at commissioning organisations new to working with the third sector.

Courses will increase awareness and understanding of the third sector, help improve engagement and enable greater access to specialist knowledge that will benefit the delivery of public services.

The initial day-long courses will cover a range of topics including:

• the policy context for the national programme, potential benefits and perceived barriers
• building relationships with the third sector, keys to successful engagement, partnering
• stimulating the market, measuring outcomes and assessing impact, accounting for social
• return and social value working within the EU procurement framework.

Commissioning from the third sector – for dates and venue information, and to book a place

Creating better outcomes for children and young people by improving the commissioning of cultural services

This project helps to improve outcomes for children and young people through improving the commissioning of cultural services.

The research – involving twelve directors of Children and Young People’s Services or their representatives across four regions – indicates that cultural services are absent from the strategic commissioning process in those areas. While there is some excellent joint working, partnerships, grants and ‘spot purchasing’ of particular services or projects, cultural services are not routinely involved as key players in the mainstream structures or processes of commissioning.

The research identifies a number of opportunities where cultural organisations can make a strong strategic contribution:

• communicating children’s voices and needs
• priority underlying themes such as raising self-esteem, aspirations and confidence, enjoying and achieving, and emotional wellbeing
• problem areas where outcomes are areas of service delivery
• locality and individually commissioned services.

These opportunities require creative and innovative approaches, finding ways to bring expression and new horizons to children and young people and opening up new opportunities for them.

While the project has focused on cultural services, the resulting issues and learning is likely to be equally applicable to sport and other related services. It should therefore be extrapolated across the culture and sport sector.

Creating better outcomes for children and young people (PDF, 42 pages, 908KB)

Local Partnerships has also established a network for local authorities already in partnership with the private sector or a trust. For more details contact:

Katie Park
Programme Manager, Local Partnerships
email: katie.park@localpartnerships.org.uk

Page updated May 2010.