VODG and Collaborate CIC Looking to Reframe Commissioning

Reframing Commissioning 

• The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) and Collaborate CIC join forces to launch vital commissioning research project
• Current government commissioning processes lead to a dangerous race to the bottom on price
• Easy changes to the way third sector providers and commissioners work together could be an essential lifeline to address unmet need and service sustainability.

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) and Collaborate CIC announce the launch of a vital joint research project ‘Reframing Commissioning’ with a focus on the delivery of third sector support for disabled people.

As the membership body for disability charities, VODG is committed to improving the environment within which its members operate. Commissioning across the country varies greatly, but we know that there are real pockets of innovation and collaboration, that offer a different way of doing things.

By working with Collaborate, a social consultancy with a strong foundation in research and system change through collaboration, the two organisations are leading an exploration of what good commissioning looks like, barriers that need to be addressed, and practical levers for positive change.  

This work seeks to draw together the views of disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, third sector providers, commissioners and sector stakeholders to consider how local authority and NHS commissioning of third sector providers could be improved.  

Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of VODG says, [DRAFT QUOTE]

‘We know that for a whole range of reasons, disabled people of all ages are increasingly struggling to access the support they need, in the places and ways they choose.

‘Third sector organisations are committed to delivering high quality, outcomes-based provision but are subject to underfunding, a merry-go-round on procurement processes and commissioning that too often leads a race to the bottom on price and in turn quality. There are better ways, and by working with Collaborate to explore the barriers and good practice that exists, we are seeking to provide provocation to the system on how to refocus commissioning on ensuring the right relationships are in place between providers and commissioners for the benefit of the people they support.’  

Anna Randle, Chief Executive, Collaborate CIC

‘This important research will explore how support for disabled people - and others who rely on vital services - can work better for everyone. We know the current race to the bottom on price that characterises so much commissioning serves no one’s interests well. We also know there are pockets of innovation and creative thinking, and some straightforward, practical changes to how commissioning works in some places that could show us a better way. 

‘By working collaboratively, commissioners and third sector providers have an opportunity to reframe commissioning to best meet the needs of disabled people, and we hope that this research can shine a light on opportunities to do things differently.’

-ENDS- 

• The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) is the membership body representing over 100 voluntary sector organisations who support and work alongside disabled people. The combined turnover of our member organisations is £2.8 billion, employing 85,000 staff who support more than one million disabled people.
• Collaborate is an innovative social consultancy building the thinking, culture and practice of collaboration to help us meet the challenges of the twenty-first century together.
• Through this project we will be speaking to VODG members, commissioners, people with lived experience and sector bodies.