Examples of purchasing practice
In spite of the difficulties facing many public sector commissioners, we have a number of investees whose purchasers have been able to make substantial long-term commitments to VCS service provision.
These include:
Esk Moors Caring Ltd: This Futurebuilders investee is a start-up organisation developing home and centre-based care services for elderly people in rural North Yorkshire, has been remarkably successful in securing a seven-year delivery contract from North Yorks Social Services. The Department of Health has recognised EMC as an example of excellent practice, but perhaps its strongest suit has been that it offers the Social Services Department a solution to an urgent local, long-term problem that the Department is under pressure to address.
Broadreach House: The Broadreach House ‘Action for Change’ day service scheme for drug users currently has European Social Fund and Drugs Action Team funding to support its development. The Drugs Action Team is committed to supporting Action for Change beyond the European Social Fund funding period, and the local authorities who refer service users to Broadreach are also committed to contracting sustainably. Support from Futurebuilders has enabled Broadreach House to move away from linear service delivery and develop holistic provision using Action for Change as its service hub.
Building Blocks Solutions: BBS is a relatively new organisation, specialising in developing services for people with mental health problems in Nottinghamshire. It has developed excellent relationships with GP surgeries, developing some of its services in partnership with GPs, and is therefore well placed to benefit from the move towards practice-based commissioning. So far, this has helped BBS to avoid the difficulties experienced by some voluntary organisations involved in providing healthcare services.