Dr Simon Duffy of the Centre for Welfare Reform argues that the concept of commissioning is flawed and its now time to end the commissioning as an activity. Duffy combines arguments from his 1996 publication, Unlocking the Imagination, with recent innovations in thinking and practice.

1. Dr Simon Duffy
Centre for Welfare Reform
26th July 2016
Time to end
commissioning

2. There has been increased focus
on transferring power to people
and communities; but the concept
of commissioning has remained
largely unchanged. It is time for
radical change to build a better
partnerships between government,
community and citizens.
It is time to end commissioning.

3. Important caveat:
the problem is commissioning
not commissioners
It is the process that doesn’t work
not the people

4. 4 thoughts
1. The underlying fallacy of commissioning
2. Block procurement as reverse slave auction
3. Importing experts and exporting profit
4. Time to get really really local

6. A flawed model…
…it seems rational
but it’s conservative
and disempowering

7. • Where is citizen autonomy, control and creativity?
• Where is the community and its assets?
• Where are creative and innovative organisations?
• Where are relationships of partnership?
• Where is discovery and learning?
• Where is vision and where is justice?

9. There’s simply no need for tendering any more.
Why would you want to buy inflexible support?

10. …confused responsibility & liability

14. Will Area Councils
be the key?
Peer support
Citizen driven innovation
Local Area Coordination
Neighbourhood networks
Community businesses
Community leadership
Women-centred work
Personalised support
Community brokerage

15. FIND OUT MORE:
www.centreforwelfarereform.org
@CforWR @simonjduffy
https://www.facebook.com/centreforwelfarereform