Commissioning for Outcomes: A Place for Social Enterprise
Paula Denison presenting at Leeds Town Hall
SESC was commissioned by NHS Yorkshire and Humber, North East, North West, Department of Health and Yorkshire Forward to put together a social enterprise event. The event had two aims; to provide NHS commissioners with the opportunity to discuss the implications of the world class commissioning policy directives and to learn how the potential of Social Enterprise could be unlocked to the benefit of your commissioning and procurement.
The event also provided an outline of the issues and opportunities specific to the social enterprise sector and asked commissioners to look at three key questions;
- What needs to happen to improve contracting with local social enterprises?
- What will be your next steps?
- What type of service providers do you want to engage with and how can we promote this?
The event took place on September 25th 2008 at Leeds Town Hall and attracted around 100 delegates, keynote speakers included Gary Belfield (Director of Commissioning at The Department of Health), Fay Selvan (Chief Executive Big Life Company) and Tracy Cannell, (Social Enterprise Unit Department of Health).
Each key speaker was followed by an open floor discussion and questions. A market place of exhibitors from the sector also had the opportunity to meet the commissioners over lunch.
The afternoon session kicked off with a panel session ‘Working Differently, Working Bigger: Using Competitive Dialogue. Presented by Jim Harbidge from Carillion, Mark Cook of Anthony Collins Solicitors, Andrea Smith from NHS Yorkshire and the Humber and William Greenwood from NHS North West four different perspectives were given about their practical experience.
The event concluded with a series of break out sessions:
- Commissioning For Quality Outcomes
- Procurement Regulations A Legal Perspective and case studies from Wakefield PCT
- New Leaf New Life (CIC)
- Investment for World Class Providers
The smaller group sessions gave people the opportunity to learn more about their chosen topic of interest ask any questions.
The event was positively received by the audience, some of the comments included:
‘Excellent organisation and communication of the main event detail’
‘very good range of speakers and mix of breakout sessions’
‘worth the time and journey’
‘Informative and Interesting day’
The event gave SESC the opportunity to showcase Social Enterprise to a wide range of health commissioners from across the region.
