This presentation was used during a workshop at the Doing Different Things conference, held on 4th December 2014. The conference looked into the role of social enterprises, co-operatives and other Third Sector organisations in the delivery of social care and wellbeing services in Wales. The event was run by Welsh Government, Wales Co-operative Centre and Social Firms Wales.

1. Doing Different Things: How can Local Authorities support social enterprises, co-operatives, user-led services and the third sector to take on services?
Haydn Jones – 4th December 2014

2. Who we are
We provide health, social care and supported employment services for vulnerable people in their own communities
We believe that people do not see ‘health needs’ or
‘social care needs’ but ‘challenges and problems they face’,
often as a result of disability, illness or injury
We are passionate about…
Supporting people to make the most of their lives…

3. Where we come from

4. .
Clover
ICES
SARC
Nursing
Social Work
Physio
Energy2
Enter- prise Works
OT
Podiatry
SALT
T-health
Wheel chair
SwICC
Quality Care
in the community
Single Point Access

5. Key Drivers
•Commissioning versus provision (Transforming Community Services for health in England – PCT provided services)
•Local authority transformation – move to a commissioning council needing to deliver efficiency savings
•Control versus outcomes - a real political dimension
•Maintaining & improving integration – building on joint teams & partnership working across health & social care
•Right to Request/Provide supported by the Cabinet Office

6. A Map of the Journey

7. The Role of the Local Authority (1)
•The local authority needs to create the right environment for the Right to Provide to flourish:
–Members & leaders need to set the scene for mutualisation & set the framework from the top.
–Allow staff time to develop the idea & the business case.
•Cross party, member & staff buy-in – absolutely critical:
–Making the mutualisation agenda a ‘political football’ will result in disaster.
•Local authority social enterprise champion:
–LA should appoint a senior decision-maker, either director or an elected member of the council, to act as an internal social enterprise champion.

8. The Role of the Local Authority (2)
•Commissioning vs. Provision:
–The role of the local authority will shift under mutualisation from a direct service provider to a strategic commissioner for the population.
•Processes to create social enterprises:
–Service specifications, baselines (activity & funding), BTAs (business transfer agreements), contracts.
•Authority & powers – some grey areas but need clarity:
– LA can provide clarity on what functions it can delegate to a social enterprise e.g. social care functions in Swindon.

9. The Role of the Local Authority (3)
•The Business Case (options appraisal):
–LA has resources at its disposal to support mutualisation e.g. finance, HR, IT, legal. These will be needed to evidence sustainability in the business case. The LA can buy-in specialists & advisors to develop the case.
•The role of Welsh Government with LAs:
–Create the powers, framework & support to LAs to progress mutualisation. The Cabinet Office ‘championed’ social enterprises & secured the support of the John Lewis Partnership to work with fledgling social enterprises.
•Communicate, communicate, communicate!
–With all stakeholders inc. members, staff, unions, regulators.

10. The Role of the Local Authority (4)
•Finally, role change & relationships:
–There will come a time in the process when the role of the LA in the process will change from supportive to commissioner of service.
–Both parties (LA & new social enterprise) will be safeguard their respective positions and it is imperative to maintain relationships for the long term benefit.
–Don’t rush it!

11. Your Not Alone…
•Over 100 public service mutuals in England including SEQOL with support from:
–Wales Co-operative Centre (www.walescooperative.org)
–Cabinet Office Mutuals Taskforce (www.gov.uk)
–Social Enterprise UK (www.socialenterprise.org.uk)
–Employee Ownership Association (www.employeeownership.co.uk)
–Baxendale (www.baxendale.co.uk)

12. haydn.jones@seqol.org www.seqol.org @haydn_jones
Thank you