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Just 1 in 10 CCGs consider social care when making commissioning decisions

Just 1 in 10 CCGs consider social care when making commissioning decisions
By Carolyn Wickware
31 May 2017



Just one in 10 CCGs can show that they are actively considering social care when making procurement and commissioning decisions.

New research conducted by National Voices, a charity supporting the voices of patients, found that just 13% of CCGs are following the Public Services (Social Value Act) 2012, which requires commissioners to consider broader social, economic and environmental benefits when making these types of decisions.

Just one in 10 CCGs can show that they are actively considering social care when making procurement and commissioning decisions.

New research conducted by National Voices, a charity supporting the voices of patients, found that just 13% of CCGs are following the Public Services (Social Value Act) 2012, which requires commissioners to consider broader social, economic and environmental benefits when making these types of decisions.

The Act was a response to the risk of competitive tendering focusing solely on cost at the expense of other forms of value.

The legislation enables the public sector to commission providers who are smaller and community based, and are engaged in social enterprise or not-for-profit activities.

However, the charity found through a Freedom of Information request that, out of the 191 CCGs that responded, 43% either had no policy on the Social Value Act, were not aware of a policy or had a policy in some stage of development.

The research also found that only 13% of sustainability and transformation plans mention social value.

Don Redding, director of policy at National Voices, said: ‘The Social Value Act enables commissioners creatively to shape local non-statutory provision, so as to support people and communities with prevention, managing their health and achieving wellbeing.

‘This approach is inherent in the Five Year Forward View, the new care models and the general move towards more place-based and population-focused ‘accountable care systems’.

‘The NHS needs a serious review of how it supports commissioners to have the knowledge, confidence and skills to adopt social value these principles and approaches.’

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