Bristol voluntary and community sector (VCS) infrastructure support

Introduction

In 2010,  our Cabinet approved the Final Commissioning Strategy for securing a new set of VCS Infrastructure Support Services.

The final strategy is the result of many comments received during the three-month consulation on the Draft Strategy which took place between October 19th 2009 and January 22nd 2010. All comments received and our responses are set out in full in the Appendices.

You said, we did

The main changes that went into the final strategy are set out below:

Outcomes
Outcomes have been changed to reflect feedback from consultation and suggestions on ways to measure impact are being used by the Specification Development Group.
 
Service Model
The Service Model within the Commissioning Strategy reflects the needs and ideas which were expressed through the Needs Assessment. Potential Providers are free to propose alternative models within which they will deliver the outcomes and the key strategic goal of a co-ordinated, coherent, customer-focused set of services with common referral, recording and impact measurement and shared quality standards.
 
Delivery Model
We have now dropped the preferred Single Main Provider delivery model in response to consultation comments. The funding method of competitive Funding Agreement/Grant for the new services means they will be co-ordinated by the not-for-profit sector. Additional time for consortia development has been added into the timescale.
 
Equalities
The service delivery needs from the Equalities VCS consultations are being used by the Specification Development Group; it is accepted that representation services for BME VCS organisation must be delivered through BME providers.
 
Balance of Service Provision
The preferences expressed by both VCS groups and commissioners for the balance of where resources should be directed between practical support services and representation/influencing/networking/information services are being used by the Specification Development Group to design the Specification.

Timetable for new services and next steps

The final specification was developed by the Specification Development Group, which includes 5 VCS groups representatives and Statutory sector partners as well as City Council staff and was by the Project Board.

We invited proposals to deliver the services and the decision was agreed by The Project Board on 12th December 2010.  The new service started on 21st February 2011.

We would like to thank all the VCS groups, individuals and statutory partners who have shared their thoughts, ideas and service needs to shape the Strategy. All responses are being considered by the Specification Development Group.

Supporting documents

• Executive Summary (pdf, 86 KB)
• Final Strategy (pdf, 290 KB)
• Appendix A -VCS Main Offer Infrastructure Support Service (pdf, 26 KB)
• Appendix B - Final Survey Report (pdf, 0.7 MB)
• Appendix D - VCS Consultation comments (pdf, 235 KB)
• Appendix E - VCS Online Consultation Comments (pdf, 109 KB)
• Appendix F - Commissioner Comments (pdf, 147 KB)
• Appendix H - Draft Commissioning Strategy Consultation (pdf, 20 KB)
• Appendix J - VCS Infrastructure Equality Impact Assessment (pdf, 173 KB)
• Appendix L - VCS Infrastructure Commissioning Project timetable (pdf, 30 KB)