ACTIVITY THREE: DO

Activity Three comprises stages 6, 7 and 8 of the planning and commissioning process. Activity Three focuses on ensuring appropriate services are in place. This period of activity takes place from September to March.

What is involved in this activity?

1. Use the strategy or plan as a basis for discussion [prepared during Activity Two]

2. Draw up Service Specifications that set out the services you want in place

3. Carry out market analysis of services for children and young people

• Build on previous mapping exercise completed in Activity Two (which maps existing services and potential service providers)
• Map out skills base within existing and potential service providers

4. Discuss and agree the funds and other resources that are available

• Identify funds that are available and discuss options around aligning and pooling budgets and collaborative contracting/procurement if appropriate
• Identify options for sharing staff/building space etc
• Consider current examples where resources are shared

5. Determine how best to proceed to ensure the right services are in place. There are three key options to consider:

• You should follow the appropriate process designed to support your chosen option to either:
  - Design a new service
  - Redesign an existing service
  - Cease an existing service, having assessed the impact of terminating the contract

6. Agree which agencies will/not deliver services

• Be open and transparent in your decision making
• Share appropriate information with stakeholders in a way that is appropriate for the audience

7. Ensure formal arrangements are in place with services

• You must be clear what you expect from a service and set this out in the formal arrangement eg. outcome based contract/SLA where appropriate

8. Support and encourage market development

• Build on your market analysis by considering how you can help support the local market:
  - To enable providers to improve their skills and develop
  - To encourage customers to use services

What are the outcomes of this activity?

• Understanding of the local market and workforce skills
• Transparent and clear processes in place to procure services
• Transparent and clear use of resources
• Formal arrangements in place with services

What tools and resources are there to support you?

• Template and model service specification ( 55kb)
• Market Analysis
• Guidance: Redesigning a service
• Procurement Intranet Site – Training Section, Harmonised Tender Documents and Help me Procure Section
• The Council Constitution/ Procurement Procedure Rules
• Corporate Procurement Team
• Performance Improvement & Policy Team
• Procurement Strategy 2009-12
• Overview of Health Act flexibilities

Who can support you to complete this activity?

You should identify individuals from within your organisation that can support you to complete tasks within this activity.

If you want to speak with someone about anything on this page please contact the Commissioning Team on 0191 566 1847 or email: sct@sunderland.gov.uk