How to commission for a diverse range of providers

A blog by Simon Taylor who supports the Shared Lives Plus micro-enterprise members.
" When the Care Bill becomes law, commissioners will have a duty to promote a range of services that meet local people's needs. This won't be easy with tightening budgets and the drive to commission services 'efficiently', which many areas have seen in terms of having fewer contracts to manage. In addition, councils will have duties to support the development of preventative services and to help individuals to use Direct Payments and personal budgets to purchase support which is of their choosing.

Shared Lives Plus, supported by the Department of Health and endorsed by sector partnership Think Local Act Personal, has produced "Commissioning for Provider Diversity - A Guide", which will help councils commission in a way which gets better value for money through having a wide range of local services, not just a few large contracts.

The report draws on the voices of the smallest of providers who deliver services at the 'micro' scale and on the work of our sister organisation, Community Catalysts, which supports local authorities to create the conditions in which micro as well as larger providers can thrive. The report explains the principles and then sets out the practical steps for commissioners to take, including identifying the met and unmet needs of personal budget holders and enabling citizens to have a say at every stage...."