Appendix A – Current Developments affecting the Third Sector Key Developments Intended Outcomes/ implications for third sector Public Service Reform and Prevention building on the findings from the Christie Review. 4 pillars of reform: Prevention Partnership People Performance Third sector already adds value in this area and will continue to build on these types of approaches to ensure that they become embedded in service delivery: Building services around people and communities Early intervention and preventative approaches Service integration Partnership and collaboration/ Working with communities Focus on place Developing the infrastructure for third sector (third sector interfaces) Clarify the role and position of interfaces within CPPs and supporting third sector in their area. There is an effective local infrastructure to support the third sector that facilitates it’s involvement in community planning and ensures robust delivery of PSR. Community Planning Review Joint review by COSLA and SG to enable partnerships to deliver more Christie recommendations and PSR more effectively Workstream to improve involvement of sector in CPPs (an aspect of which develops of strong and conducive professional relationships) 3rd sector becomes a full and equal joint partner in CPPs; is accountable and takes responsibility as a member of the partnership, whilst managing to maintain independence; is enabled to bring knowledge, expertise, skills; contribute to decision making. Roles, relationships and responsibilities are clarified The 3rd sector is fully involved in service planning, design and delivery through CPPs. Scottish Government support to the sector: Just Enterprise – to support third sector organisations to grow in financial resilience and sustainability. Developing Markets programme to improve business opportunities for the third sector (and promoting the use of public social partnerships and community benefit clauses) Enterprise Growth Fund (£6M) investing in third sector organisations that are moving towards financial sustainability The third sector is more financially sustainable and has capacity to deliver PSR/ services. Increased public sector confidence in the third sector. Third sector wins more contracts Increase the economic contribution of the third sector. A more enterprising third sector operating as growing businesses. Enhanced third sector leadership to support business development and sustainability.
Scottish Investment Fund (£3M in 2011-12) Public social partnerships and Community Benefit Clauses increase opportunities and help to strengthen third sector role in designing services. Supporting Volunteering Volunteer Development Scotland Voluntary Action Fund (£1M) Saltire Awards Volunteering better supported/ valued Stronger civic identity Community Empowerment Currently under consultation, the Community Empowerment Bill aims to: Strengthen opportunities for communities to take independent action to achieve own goals, aspirations Ensure communities are better able to have a greater role in determining how local public services are delivered Third sector will help support community capacity building especially with harder to reach and disadvantaged communities. There is a stronger civic identity / participation Change Funds (£500M+) To facilitate the spending shifts away from acute to early interventions give momentum to preventative approaches. Three Change Funds cover: Reshaping Care for Older People Early Years Reducing Reoffending Third sector plays a key role in delivering Change Funds and should be a partner in Change Plans in each LA. Partnership working is realised through these programmes. Equalities Tackling deep rooted inequalities in Scottish society, tackling racism, improving outcomes for minority groups Third sector continues to work to support the unequal / hard to reach/ excluded communities in society. Focus on Outcomes Since 2007, an outcomes focussed way of working, monitoring progress and measuring impact, has become instilled at all levels (from the governmental to the local to the organisational). The sector is outcomes focussed, conducts monitoring and collects evidence to evaluate their progress towards outcomes. Welfare Reform From April 2013, the Welfare Reforms will come into effect across the UK with research commissioned by the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee highlighting that these reforms will have a significant impact on sector organisations are involved in a wide range of welfare related activities ranging from providing information and advice on the reforms to providing crisis support and other assistance for service users who have been negatively affected by them.