National Commissioning and Contracting Conference 2009

1. National Commissioning and Contracting Conference 2009 The importance of micro social care enterprise to a diverse market able to offer personalised services Sian Lockwood, Chief Executive NAAPS UK

2. What is NAAPS? NAAPS is a UK Charity that supports and represents very small (micro) family and community based services

3. What drives NAAPS? A commitment to services and supports that �put people and not systems first� A passionate belief in family and community based micro services as an important option in a diverse market A commitment to non silo, joined up, partnership working to maximise resources and get the best outcomes for people A desire to be a catalyst for positive change

4. Individuals as commissioners Government policy emphasises personalised solutions and wants people to take control of their own lives and decisions A key strategy is to enable people to become their own commissioners and choose what services to buy Direct payments and personal budgets are important tools People who fund their own care and people who receive funding from the local authority will be in the same position

5. Individuals in control? Giving people control of their money is only half the answer Not everyone wants to employ their own staff There must also be a wide range of services of all shapes and sizes for people to choose from

6. NAAPS definition of micro services Services that are: Providing support or care to people in their community Delivered by 5 or fewer workers � paid or unpaid Independent of any larger organisation

7. Examples of micro services Supported tenancies Small residential care homes Day services Leisure services Support to people living in their own homes Holidays and short breaks Friendship or good neighbour Drop in centres and lunch clubs Advice and representation Personal development

8. Who are the providers? A range of business models: sole trader, partnership, small business, social enterprise, not for profit, charity or voluntary organisation May be delivered on an informal, voluntary or barter basis May need to generate income to cover costs or to earn a salary May employ a small number of staff Many directly deliver support themselves and have no staff Full time or occasional - fitting in with other employment, personal, caring responsibilities or study. Established or new and emerging

9. What can micro services offer service users? Personal and tailored Flexible and responsive to change Choice and diversity Co-produced Firmly rooted in communities with a good understanding of local issues.Local services for local people provided by local people A service that is based on relationships and will therefore �stick with people�

10. What can micro services offer local authorities? Add choice and diversity to a market often dominated by a few larger providers Help achieve National Indicators (including those not often associated with social care) and targets: stronger communities, adult health and wellbeing, economic regeneration Demonstrate entrepreneurialism, innovation, and creativity and encourage others to set up services

11. Local Area Agreement Council Priorities Example Increasing community engagement (NI 4) Supporting the development of the third sector in partnership working and the delivery of key outcomes (NI 6 and 7) Promote health and well being (NI 6, NI 119, NI 124, NI 139, NI 142) Reduce worklessness (NI 6, NI 119, NI 153, NI 171) Improving access to services and social inclusion (NI 7) Address the issue of climate change (NI 186)

12. The Challenge - a shrinking market The way in which services are supported, regulated and commissioned has forced many good �micro services� to close. It is unattractive or impossible for new and emerging providers to enter the market

13. Examples of barriers faced Commissioning practice Disproportionate or inappropriate regulation and rules Knowing what people want to buy Accessing advice and information Affordable, appropriate insurance Start up funding Workforce training and development

14. A spontaneous market response? There is a view that new services will emerge spontaneously in response to the growing number of people with their own budget Our experience indicates that this does not happen easily in an area of work so fraught with regulation, red tape and volatility Providers need information, advice and some certainty before they will take the huge step of setting up a new enterprise or transforming an existing service

15. The NAAPS micro market project Funded by DH Is piloting a local agency model of support for existing and new micro providers Pilot areas in Oldham and Kent Testing approaches and learning lessons Working alongside other similar projects and initiatives (eg: Southampton renewal project) Will result in a Practical Guide which organisations or LAs can use to set up an agency to support micro providers

16. Early lessons from the project Many barriers to micro social enterprise can be overcome with good local agency support BUT Some barriers are caused by legislation, regulation and government strategies and need to be resolved nationally NAAPS is working both to support and advise on the support agency model whilst also tackling wider national issues

17. What can NAAPS offer? Considerable experience of working with micro and family based enterprises Specialist expertise Strong values, principles and beliefs Excellent networks and contacts at all levels and across sectors A commitment to partnership working and an aversion for reinventing the wheel Flexible and responsive approaches An ability to make things happen in practice

18. What can NAAPS offer individual providers? Membership of NAAPS brings the following benefits: Legal expenses cover Access to affordable, tailored insurance products Information and advice through email advice line and bulletins, website and newsletters. Publications tailored to the needs of members. Learning opportunities

19. What can NAAPS offer Local Authorities? For those who want to stimulate and support the development of new micro social care enterprises in their area. NAAPS offers tailored consultancy support. Examples of issues that can be covered: Identifying and engaging with existing micro enterprises Establishing a micro enterprise support agency Exploring the local barriers to the emergence of new micro enterprises and taking steps to minimise these Addressing quality assurance and safeguarding issues Working within an SDS framework

20. What else can NAAPS offer Local Authorities? For those who want to maintain and strengthen current micro provision in their area. A package which offers: Individual membership for up to 30 existing providers for an annual fixed fee Two days consultancy support An opportunity to engage with the work being done in the two pilot areas and to benefit from the learning

21. Further information? Sian Lockwood NAAPS Chief Executive sian@naaps.org.uk