1. Commissioning the Third Sector
Government policy on commissioning the third sector
Opportunities and barriers
GMCVO and commissioning
New GMCVO Health Partnership Project

2. Government policy agenda: public services
High expectations of the ‘third’ sector to deliver public services
Shifting control over services to the local level
Commissioners advised to support the development of a plurality of providers from different sectors, creating choice and competition

3. Government policy agenda: commissioning the third sector
Commissioning according to outcomes
Commissioners to actively support the third sector to bid for contracts
Greater transparency, fairness, flexibility and efficiency in the commissioning process

4. Opportunities… Outcome-based commissioning may favour the sector
Third sector input into public service planning and design
More of a strategic role for the sector

5. …and barriers
Lack of capacity, resources, skills and (secure) funding. Some organisations are a long way from being ‘market ready’
Full cost recovery…?
Third sector simply a delivery arm for the NHS and local government
Anxieties that smaller organisations will lose out in competition for resources

6. What role for infrastructure?
Supporting commissioners in ‘talking’ to the sector: info, consultation, representation, brokerage
Supporting the sector to become ‘market ready’: training, capacity building etc
Co-ordinating consortia/partnerships of third sector contractors

7. GMCVO and Commissioning
Audit Commission review of health inequalities in Greater Manchester
GMCVO consultation on the Dept of Health Commissioning Framework for Health and Well-being

8. GMCVO and Commissioning: Health Partnership Project
Overcome barriers to commissioning the third sector in Greater Manchester
Improve commissioners’ knowledge and understanding of third sector
Build capacity of third sector to navigate the commissioning process
Build a strong strategic relationship between third sector and Greater Manchester partners

9. Conclusion
Commissioning presents opportunities to the third sector – not just to deliver public services but to reform them
Third sector infrastructure bodies have an important role to play
Success of GMCVO project depends on good links with third sector infrastructure