Principles met

  • We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.
  • We will capture and ‘expand’ the experience and learning from individual projects and approaches in order to encourage broader application of co-operative principles within individual member Councils and across the Network.
  • In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

RedQuadrant were commissioned to review social care commissioning activity for children and adults’ social care services. We used a self-assessment tool, developed with the LGA, to assess the effectiveness of strategic commissioning arrangements and identify improvements.

Gateshead wanted a review of social care commissioning activity for children and adults to ensure that it was effective, efficient, and supported the council to achieve its strategic outcomes and taking account of innovative practice and positive impact, commissioning practice, procurement practice, governance, partnerships and strategic approach.

There was a concern that, although there were pockets of good practice, the approach to commissioning was largely reactive, procurement-driven, and neither strategic nor whole system-focused in approach.

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