Looks like we have lift off for an agenda!
Jonathan Sutton
Chief Executive
St Paul's Hostel
Tallow Hill
Worcester
From: wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Britton
Sent: 05 May 2016 16:22
To: wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wv-ref-group] Re: Fwd: Voices Board
Dear all
But I think we have to re-imagine or re-engineer commissioning from a dependent
to an interdependent relationship in which the provider understands what needs
to be commissioned and engages in self-commissioning based on optimising public
good. The danger is that the private sector (quite properly) sees shareholder
value as the engine - we need to be the force that seen public good as the
engine.
Roger
On 5 May 2016, at 15:08,
<ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
<ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Dear Jonathan
Exactly my thoughts when I said that WCC need to understand that the future
lies in co-commissioning.
Mark
From:
wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jonathan Sutton
Sent: 05 May 2016 14:52
To: wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wv-ref-group] Re: Fwd: Voices Board
Just a thought
Think about the VCS potential for what we might call information superiority;
The VCS have tetra-litres of information stored in our excel spreadsheets,
client notes etc. That’s a value resource if it can be harnessed.
Looking forward to the Commissioner – Provider model, with increasingly tight
budgets, the future is likely to be an oligopoly of big providers and a rump of
a commissioner. The understanding shifts from the County Council (who used to
know what to deliver) to the provider. The provider does the work, collects the
data, owns the data, controls the data and will use the data to inform the
commissioner what needs to be done. Power shifts and in an oligopoly that
creates a very powerful group of providers.
How do WCC commission a service when they have little idea what the scale,
depth of the problem actually is and who might provide that resource to help
them?
Food for thought.
J
Jonathan Sutton
Chief Executive
St Paul's Hostel
Tallow Hill
Worcester
From:
wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Britton
Sent: 05 May 2016 14:08
To: wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wv-ref-group] Re: Fwd: Voices Board
Dear all
I think this is a really valuable contribution from Jonathan (even though I did
once have a very good desert which involved tomatoes and very old balsamic
vinegar).
Our position needs to be very clearly that we are not servicing the needs of
local government or indeed any other agencies but are free standing with our
own deep knowledge of society which we will bring to the table sitting as
partners - subordinate in resources but superior in understanding.
A conversation with Clare would be valuable but we need to plan this, so if she
is coming to the Reference Group we need to develop her thinking via individual
conversations before that and also engage with the other key influencers.
From our perspective what we need to deliver is a good understanding of the
sector and a clear demonstration that it can be navigated if you have access to
the right maps!
Regards
Roger
On 5 May 2016, at 13:51, Jonathan Sutton
<Jonathan.Sutton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Jonathan.Sutton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
wrote:
Dear Michael,
Right, I’ve thought about this a bit more.
Opportunity, opportunity, opportunity.
This is an opportunity, coming as it does hard on the heels of the Peer Review,
to re-set the relationship. I would want to see a conversation that;
• Is forward looking, acknowledging the financial situation as it is, not
how we might want it to be or what is used to be.
• Explores the opportunities the VCS bring to help solve or mitigate the
big problems Worcestershire is having to deal with. We can be clear where the
VCS strengths are; Our undiluted connectivity to ‘the problem’, our collective
data on the clients, our values, volunteers and goodwill be can be brought to
on the problems.
• Understanding the freedoms and constraints of the commissioning model.
Commissioning does not always have to be competitive – there are legalities and
processes but these are man-made and some flexibility can be created. Let’s
explore that space.
• A personal favourite is how we can contribute to understanding (the
problem) thereby creating an appropriate solution not some basket case but
perfectly written and undeliverable contract specification. It’s the difference
betweenintelligence and understanding; ‘Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a
fruit; understanding is not putting it in a fruit salad.’ VCS are well placed
to know about tomatoes and fruit salads. That’s one of our key strengths.
• We should have our bucket list of ‘problems’ we want to help solve. Say
3-5 where we think mutual benefit and collaboration can take place, quickly.
EG. There’s is link between early life trauma, poor schooling (excluded kids),
dodgy parenting, homelessness, prison, criminal justice....how do we get
amongst that?
I would ask for facilitation. Essential if we are having round the table
discussion. I saw this in action at one of the H&WB events. A chap (name
escapes me...but Claire ought to know) facilitated the conversation superbly.
He allowed elephants in the room to be ever so gently uncovered and nobody what
injured in the process.
Hope all of that is helpful. Ignore some or all of the above as you see fit.
J
Jonathan Sutton
Chief Executive
St Paul's Hostel
Tallow Hill
Worcester
From:
wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael Hunter ;(V)
Sent: 04 May 2016 10:49
To: wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wv-ref-group] Re: Fwd: Voices Board
Hi all,
Picking up a few points made by Mark, Doug, Derek, etc
The group who met with the Peer Reviewers made the point about early
involvement very strongly - and this was reflected in the verbal feedback and
so will appear, I'm sure, in the final report of the peer review.
I think Clare (and others) have a particular view of the VCS and do not
understand its diversity. Again (as was raised at the review) the VCS are seen
principally as a Service Providers.
I know that Clare thinks that the VCS should save in back office costs by
combining / centralising - she mentioned that again just last week. I know some
of that happens already but also that the 'back office costs' are already cut
to the bone and it may be difficult to make a case for any further savings.
I will circulate some proposed dates for another Reference Group meeting
shortly and then explore options with Clare for the following meeting. Watch
out for another email about that.
Best wishes
Michael
Michael Hunter, Chairman, Worcestershire Voices
Supporting an independent and influential Voluntary and Community Sector
michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
www.worcestershirevoices.org.uk<http://www.worcestershirevoices.org.uk/>
01386 41490 07595 099 881
I’m proud to be backing Worcestershire Next Generation.
Visit
www.wearethenextgeneration.co.uk<http://www.wearethenextgeneration.co.uk/> to
find out how you can join in the conversation.
On 04/05/2016 09:14,
ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Michael
An interesting request. As WCC have moved from being a providing to a
commissioning organisation it is clear that Claire needs to build relationships
with potential providers. However, we must be very clear with us that
co-commissioning where the VCS provide large shares of the money to fund
services must involve the VCS at the outset in the c—design of the services
that are commissioned, rather than WCC alone writing a tender and then sending
it out to VCS. This is w very difficult mind-set for the public sector to
accept, so we must help them once they accept the principle.
Best wishes
Mark
From:
wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:wv-ref-group-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael Hunter
Sent: 03 May 2016 18:39
To: wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wv-ref-group] Fwd: Voices Board
Dear Colleagues
This received this afternoon...
Thoughts please before I respond to Clare??
Best wishes
Michael
Michael Hunter, Chairman, Worcestershire Voices
Supporting an independent and influential Voluntary and Community Sector
michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
www.worcestershirevoices.org.uk<http://www.worcestershirevoices.org.uk/>
01386 41490 07595 099 881
I’m proud to be backing Worcestershire Next Generation.
Visit
www.wearethenextgeneration.co.uk<http://www.wearethenextgeneration.co.uk/> to
find out how you can join in the conversation.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:
Voices Board
Date:
Tue, 3 May 2016 14:58:00 +0000
From:
Marchant, Clare (Chief Executive)
<CMarchant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:CMarchant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To:
Michael Hunter
(michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>)
<michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:michael.hunter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
CC:
Kristel, Sander (Res)
<SKristel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:SKristel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Birtwistle, Michelle (Res, PA to Chief
Exec)<MBirtwistle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:MBirtwistle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Willetts, Luke (CEU)
<LWilletts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:LWilletts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Michael
In anticipation of our formal peer review feedback I would like to come to
Voices Board at some point over spring/summer. This would be an opportunity to
look at how the VCS works better with the County Council and vice versa and we
could also use for feedback on our corporate plan, which we are due to refresh
for November Council. Hopefully you feel this would be productive and if so
could you provide Michelle with next few dates to see if we can get one that
works.
Thanks
Clare
Clare Marchant | Chief Executive | Worcestershire County Council
Tel: 01905 766100 |
cmarchant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:cmarchant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> |
Twitter: @clareworcs
<image001.png>
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