National Market Development Forum 2010 Briefing Papers

Added: 07/07/2010
Updated: 06/07/2012

The group met six times during 2010. In November 2010, the group published five papers to help purchasers and providers address the market development agenda in their local area. Links to the five papers are in the 'Documents' section below.

1 - The Future Social Care Market.

Increasing demand, greater numbers of self funders and personal budget holders and restrictions in local government expenditure will inevitably mean significant change to the social care market in the coming years. This paper looks at some of the challenges that lie ahead, and maps potential features of an ideal market.

2 - Developing Market Intelligence.

Local authorities, providers and actual and potential users of social care services, however funded, need to understand much better how markets operate. For local authorities in particular, if they are to move from being direct purchasers to facilitators of care provision then they need better market intelligence. This paper looks as a starting point at how market intelligence can be defined and information brought together into a single Market Position Statement.

3 - How will 'personalisation' change the way services are procured?

With funding restrictions on the horizon, gathering momentum for personalisation, and a need to work more efficiently and collaboratively, the way social care services are procured needs to change. This paper reflects on how procurement has been perceived in the adult social care arena and how it is changing in response to personalisation. Drawing on some emerging models of practice, it aims to provide food for thought for commissioners and providers alike and to prompt further discussion and activity at local level.

4 - The implications of personalisation for social care tendering

Providers and commissioners alike recognise that procurement processes for social care are likely to radically change under the impact of personalisation. However, what shape that change might take and which elements of existing arrangements will remain is very much open for discussion. This paper explores the issues arising from current tendering arrangements and the implications of the range of new approaches that might be adopted. NMDF will also be producing a further paper exploring the legal framework for procurement and tendering.

5 - Building constructive market relations

It is very easy to see better relationships between commissioners and providers as the solution to all ills in the social care market place, or potentially even by-passed by service users directly purchasing their own care and support. This paper explores some of the real tensions that exist and how these might still impact on personalisation. Under a three stage model of market intelligence, market facilitation and market intervention the paper then suggests practical approaches that both providers and commissioners can adopt in order to improve their working relationships.

We would welcome any examples people have of good practice in their relationships between providers and local authorities and also where these relationship have not worked so well. Please email ipc@brookes.ac.uk

Documents