In 2006, the government made a commitment to increase the contribution of third sector organisations in the design and delivery of public services. What progress has been made?
The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) leads work across government to support the environment for a thriving third sector (voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities, cooperatives and mutuals), enabling the sector to campaign for change, deliver public services, promote social enterprise and strengthen communities.
Partnerships in Public Services: the public services action plan was launched in 2006 to help facilitate an increase in public service delivery by the third sector. A recent report outlines what has been happening to implement the action plan. Update as follows:
The National Programme of Third Sector Commissioning is being managed
by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA). Its work includes
training of commissioners of services from the third sector,
consultation and evaluation.
The outcomes of the programme are:
- co-ordinated specialist guidance and support on commissioning services from the third sector
- increased understanding of the third sector among commissioning and procurement officers
- provision of awareness training for councillors and public sector officers on the benefits of third-sector involvement in the shaping and delivery of public services
- provision of awareness and skills training for the most significant 2,000 commissioners concerned with correctional services, employment services, children’s services, education and training, health and social care services, and other local services
- improved third-sector bidding capacity, particularly among smaller organisations.
It has developed eight principles of good commissioning, ensuring that procurement practices don’t disadvantage third sector organisations and, particularly, take account of their potential benefits in delivering community-based services.
The report outlines how the OTS works with Government departments to embed partnership working with the sector. How are the different departments performing?
The Department of Health (DH) Third Sector Partnership Team acts as the strategic focus within the DH for promoting the Third Sector, and volunteering, in the context of health and social care policy and service department and delivery.
The Ministry of Justice launched their Third Sector Strategy 2008-2011 in June 2008 – aimed at improving the way they work with the third sector.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched its Third Sector Strategy on 3rd November 2008 which signals the Department’s commitment to working with the sector.
Many of the programmes and strategic objectives of the Department for Communities and Local Government are delivered by the third sector. The Department are working to strengthen their social enterprise unit and develop clearer links with the existing third sector team.
EnterpriseUpfront will keep you up to date on progress of this important agenda in future issues and welcome any contributions from readers to support the sharing of best practice across the third sector.
To find out more about the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning visit:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6583598