Policy Reflections & Sector Challenges

Richard CaulfieldChief Executive

Things that keep me awake at night

• Cuts• Office for Civil Society• Growth• Payments by Results• Welfare reform• Future of Infrastructure• Our National Voice• Young people• Debt• Big Lottery• The ‘F’ Word• NHS Reform• Choice• Quasi-Quangos• Talking to Government• Work Programme• London Centricism• Big Society• Accountability• Local Enterprise partnerships• Environment

What to look out for in 2013• Austerity• NHS Reforms• Police & Criminal Justice• Welfare Reform• Payments by Results• Voluntary & Community Sector infrastructure• Equalities• Social Value Act• A few more…

Where are we now…• More Austerity• Public sector reform/delivery• NHS Reforms• Criminal Justice• Equalities• Welfare Reform• Payments by Results• Young People• Voluntary & Community Sector infrastructure• Social Value Act• A few more…

More Austerity

• More Local Authority cuts coming in 2014• What is the impact on services – and service

users?• What role should we play as a sector?

• in making cuts ‘hurt less’• In helping the Council ‘cut well’• In giving voice to those disadvantaged

• What about other cuts and the cumulative effect? (possibly £130m in health)

Public Sector Reform/Delivery

• Opportunity…• … or are we a Trojan Horse?• Unintended consequences – Work Programme– Offender management – National Citizen Service

• The rise (and often fall) of consortia• Still generally for the ‘large’• It’s the sector – but not as we know it…

Calderstones Trust/Future Directions

‘In its Annual Plan for 2013-14 the trust said

Future Directions would aim to make loss-making contracts profitable "using the flexibilities of being a social enterprise" to deliver care in a "market-focused and cost-effective way’

NHS Reforms• Public Health in local authority– ‘ring-fence remains’: really?

• Clinical Commissioning Groups still learning…– New funding formula dangerous

• Some CCGs launching grant programmes – and do seem to ‘get it’!

• Importance of other structures still unclear…• Get engaged in Healthwatch: we must make it

work• Stay informed!

Criminal Justice

• Opportunity knocks…

• Increased role for VCS

• An ‘improved offer’ based on experience!

• Still some PbR

• Are we an excuse to privatise probation?

Welfare Reform

• Universal Credit – NW pilots– Tameside CAB reports78% of its clients could not

complete the online application forms without help– also found many families that are about to be moved

on to the new benefit will need emergency financial support to help pay for basics.

• ‘bedroom tax’• Scroungers versus shirkers• What support and advice will people need?• Who will be around to give it?

Payments by Results (PbR)• Logical conclusion of Outcome funding…• Initial Desire to make everything PbR:– Work Programme– Ministry of Justice

• Unintended consequences– Young Apprentice– Mid Staffs– ‘Gaming’– Lying

• Who is outcome attributable to?

Young People

• Cuts in Youth Services• Youth Unemployment • Youth Contract any use?• How about a ‘Future Jobs Fund’?• Under 25s and benefits– Single parents– Vulnerable young people

VCS Infrastructure

• No more central government money• Declining local investment• Rise of ‘paid for’ services• Innovation crucial• ‘4Good’ model part of a great response• Needs frontline support• Who will provide voice if we lose it?

Equalities

• Generally off the agenda• Health Inequalities growing – funding being

sent elsewhere• What does this mean for equality groups?• How do we support the diversity of our

community?• How do we use the ‘fairness’ agenda?

Social Value Act

• Now in force…• Did you notice?• Commissioners must take Social Value into

account• How do we educate commissioners & sector

about Social Value?• How do smaller groups measure/express it?– Why should they?

And a few more

• Make sure these things are on your radar…– City Deals– Rise of the LEPs– Whole Place Community Budgets– EU Funding

Things I have missed out…• Unemployment/Work Programme• Working with the private sector• Right to Challenge/Right to Bid• The Environment• The Growth agenda• Big Lottery• B_ _ S_ _ _ _ _ _• Skills Agenda• Lobbying Bill• POVERTY

Things we can do…

• Think about ‘failure demand’• Collaborate more• Co-Produce• Create Locally• Do what we do best• Campaign

‘Failure Demand’

• How many of our services rely on failures elsewhere in the system?

• How do we prevent these failures?• Can we show cost savings?• Do we just go along with it sometimes for our own

good?

Collaborate more

• Find collaborators

• May not be usual suspects

• Look to private sector as well as VCS/Public S

• Get someone to support collaboration

Co-production

Need to• Push for changes in commissioning processes• See public sector colleagues as part of the

solution• Work collaboratively within the sector with

mutual trust• Celebrate those commissioners who truly

engage

Create Locally

• Give local businesses a route to connect• Be creative about opportunities in the

community• Be focused upon what you want to achieve• Keep grants on the agenda!

Do what we do best…

• Respond to need– Fill the gaps

• Focus energy on the people and places that need it

• Provide a platform for the voice of those who need support

• Don’t let anyone fall below the radar

Campaign

"Now is not the time to hold your tongue just because you need that government grant or

contract. Now is the time to speak out openly and truthfully about how these

changes affect your beneficiaries."

Debra Allcock TylerChief Executive Directory of Social Change