The presentation is part of NCVO's project to learn more about how charities can work better with government, and how charities delivering public services can be supported to ensure the best outcomes. Find out more about the 2015 project and tell us what you think: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/component/content/article/14-content/members/455-the-2015-project-public-services

1. Public Services
How can charities make the case for good
commissioning, early action and improving
the way government works

2. This presentation covers the third of NCVO’s 2015 Project:
public services.
It explores three topics – how government works, early action and
commissioning.
The 2015 Project aims to stimulate discussion about what role
charities can, and should, have in a number of areas.
The feedback we receive will form the basis of NCVO’s work ahead of
the 2015 election.

3. The role of charities in delivering
public services
The role of the voluntary sector in delivering public sector contracts
has increased significantly in recent years.
By being close to their users, charities have a unique perspective on
their needs and how to improve services.
Source: Exeter
CVS, NCVO Photo

5. Early action
Early action relates to the preventative measures that help alleviate
social problems before they take place, or escalate.
Source: Guardian
For early action to be truly effective, it needs to have a joined-up
approach to government departmental budgets, local authorities, and
voluntary organisations.

6. Benefits of early action
“Many of the costly and damaging social problems in society are
created because we are not giving children the right type of support in
their earliest years.” Graham Allen MP, Early Intervention: The Next Steps, 2011.
Source: Young Minds
Often early intervention is used in relation to children and early years
– but it can be applied to many other areas (such as criminal
justice, social care).

7. Revolving door
Similarly to early action strategy, charities are expert at dealing with
multiple problems, and tackling the root causes.
The analogy of a revolving door policy relates to issues that people
experience in cycles, and find it difficult to escape the ‘revolving door’
of problems.
This can be seen in many areas of social policy.

8. How Government works
Source: Telegraph
With limited resources, it can often seem difficult for charities to
navigate and gain access to the right decision makers in Westminster
and Whitehall.
A more joined-up approach to policy making could be achieved through
the appropriate voluntary organisations, businesses and individuals
being in conversation with officials during the decision making
processes.

9. Government Consultations
Used to hear the views of interested
organisations on the potential policy proposals.
Some issues with the current way consultations take place, these
include:
Timing
• The time frames given to external audiences to respond in a
meaningful way
Meaningfulness
• How useful are consultations for improving policy
Frequency
• High frequency of consultations could result in charities unable
to take part, or take part fully
• Decision makers could potentially miss out on an important, or
different viewpoint

10. Open policy making
There’s a trend towards more open policy making – with the Cabinet
Office Open Policy Making team stating that “Whitehall should not have
a monopoly on policy expertise”.
Source: Telegraph
* This is a real opportunity for the voluntary sector.

11. Work Shadowing
By sharing experiences between government departments and civil
society, both sectors would be more informed of each other’s
work, ethos and challenges.
For example - NCVO’s ‘A Day in the Life…’ work shadow scheme:

12. So what does this all mean?
Some food for thought.
The relationships between local and national governments with charities has
changed in recent years – with more public services being commissioned to
the public and voluntary sectors.
If this trend continues, how will charities maintain their distinctiveness as
organisations with clear missions? How will they differ from public bodies?
There seems to be some consensus around the benefits of early action, but
what can charities do to really make the case?
Do government consultations work for anyone?
Commissioning – What small changes are needed to improve the process to
make for better services?

13. What next?
If you have 2 minutes - We’d love to hear your ideas in relation to
these big debates – contact 2015project@ncvo-vol.org.uk
If you have 10 minutes – Please read our discussion papers and blog
posts on each topic, and respond to the questions.
How government works
• Open policy making is a huge opportunity for charities
Early action
• Why wait for trouble? The case for early action
Commissioning
• 10 small changes needed to improve commissioning

14. References
Bond: Young Minds - The Government’s new Mental Health Strategy emphasises the
crucial importance of early intervention in emerging emotional and mental health
problems for children and young people.
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/training_services/bond_voluntary_sector/about_bond
The Guardian: Local government plays critical role in early intervention
http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/may/15/localgovernment-early-intervention
Community Care: What is reablement?
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/articles/20/09/2010/115389/what-isreablement.htm
Age Cymru: The Welsh Reablement Alliance
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/professional-resources/welsh-reablement-alliance/
BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24162879
Compact Voice http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/
Parliament.uk http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-az/commons-select/public-administration-select-committee/news/public-engagementreport/
Early Action Task Force, 2012. ‘The Deciding Time’http://www.community-links.org/ournational-work/publications/the/