Future Options For Public Authority Training And Employment Enterprises
ISB Conference 12th March 2003
REVISED PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY:
Future Options For Public Authority Training And Employment Enterprises –
An Examination Of the Strategic And Operational Issues Around Externalisation, Modernisation And New NHS / Local Authority Policy Agendas
9 – 9.30am Registration & Coffee
9.30 – 9.35am Welcome from the Chair Bob Grove
9.35am ISB – the principles & purpose of the funding stream Michael Thornton, Head of the ISB Unit, HM Treasury (powerpoint presentation)
9.45am Public Authority Enterprises – Potential Social Firms? Gerry Higgins, CEO of SFUK outlines the background to this ISB Project and presents some experiences for public authorities wishing to develop social firms. (powerpoint presentation)
10.05am Lessons from ISB: Northumberland County Council As part of an ambitious day care modernisation programme, run alongside the establishment of a joint Care Trust, Northumberland has been developing social enterprises out of existing day care activities, as well as some social firms in entirely new trade areas, as a route into employment for people with learning and other disabilities. Dave Barras of Northumberland County Council and Geof Cox of Economic Partnerships outline the key lessons learnt.
10.35am The Cost Benefit Analysis Summarised Bob Grove presents an overview of the process and findings of the cost benefit analysis done under the ISB Project.(powerpoint presentation)
10.50am Coffee Break / Networking / Exhibition
11.20am Surrey County Council Charlotte Langridge, Business Development Manager of Surrey County Council, outlines the process for what started off as 3 enterprise activities being considered for externalisation and shares the main issues which have resulted in only one being seriously moved forward under the programme. (powerpoint presentation)
11.50am What’s an NHS Trust doing running businesses anyway! Sally Reynolds of Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust shares the ups and downs of externalisation proposals for its two social firms: Netherne Printing Services and Travel Matters. (powerpoint presentation)
12.20pm What’s Legal and What Isn’t? Trevor Mawer from Capsticks provides an overview of the legislation surrounding TUPE of staff from NHS and local authority settings into externalised firms, implications of pension and legalities of asset transfer to help these enterprises on their way (or not). This presentation is meant as a taster – the associated workshop will go into more of the issues in detail. (powerpoint presentation)
12.45pm Lunch & networking
1.45pm Where’s it all going? Bringing work for people with mental health problems into the mainstream as a central component of National Service Framework and NHS Plan implementation. Dr Richard Ford, South East Development Centre, National Institute for Mental Health in England. (powerpoint presentation)
2.15 – 3.45pm WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP A: Exploration into the Personnel and Employment Issues Associated with Externalisation of Services. LOCATION: IMPERIAL SUITE (on same floor as the main conference room, outside by the lift & toilets) This workshop will follow up on the morning presentation and will aim to clarify some of the issues arising from the question of externalisation with debate and group discussion. Two hypothetical case studies for externalisation will be put forward to small delegate groups for proposals to be compiled and fed back to a panel comprising of Trevor Mawer and Christopher Brophy from Capsticks, David Dye of Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust and Jackie Atchinson from London Borough of Newham. CASE STUDY A (pdf file) CASE STUDY B (pdf file)
WORKSHOP B: How Charities Identify and Grasp the Opportunities of Externalisation. LOCATION: ROOM G5-G7, ECLIPSE PAVILION GROUND FLOOR (from main conference room take lift down, come out and turn right to cross link bridge to the Eclipse Pavilion building then take the lift down to the ground floor). Kevin Tunnard and Annette Hamilton of Richmond Fellowship Workschemes and Andy Cox, ex-manager of Mental Health Matters, explore the issues that charities consider when approached to take on existing public authority services. This workshop will look at contracting and service agreements, the ‘fit’ with charitable objectives, funding implications and general management of the process. CASE STUDIES (pdf file)
WORKSHOP C: What happens if a local authority or NHS Trust withdraws funding for one of its own work-related projects? LOCATION: ROOM 3.1-3.3 ECLIPSE PAVILION 3rd FLOOR (from main conference room take lift down, come out and turn right to cross link bridge to the Eclipse Pavilion building then take the lift up to the third floor). Mike Stanley from the Board of Oakleaf Enterprise in Guildford describes how this unit for people with mental health problems didn’t close but converted into a charity set up from scratch with some assistance from its NHS Trust to enable the transition. Clive Stone, Chief Executive of Oakleaf Enterprise, also shares some of the realities surrounding externalising in this way.
WORKSHOP D:How Can Public Authorities Fulfil Their Obligations To Their Services Users Through Service Agreements And Procurement? LOCATION: ROOM 3.6-3.8 ECLIPSE PAVILION 3rd FLOOR (from main conference room take lift down, come out and turn right to cross link bridge to the Eclipse Pavilion building then take the lift up to the third floor). This workshop will share experiences on the setting up of service agreements and contracts for enterprises to provide care services on the one hand, and commercial contracts on the other. Short presentations will be made by Robert Hill of Supercare and Jamie Ounan from Tower Hamlets Borough Council. Discussion and debate will be chaired by Jane Sidaway.
WORKSHOP F:Capitalising Externalised Services LOCATION: ROOM 3.4-3.5 ECLIPSE PAVILION 3rd FLOOR (from main conference room take lift down, come out and turn right to cross link bridge to the Eclipse Pavilion building then take the lift up to the third floor). The assets used in a trading activity within a public authority or large charity may not be available or suitable to an externalised social enterprise, and there may be mysterious new financial needs like 'working capital'. In this workshop Geof Cox and Guy Turnbull of Economic Partnerships look at the issues around how to assess capital needs, and at the whole range of options for financing either existing or new premises, equipment and cash flow.
3.45pm Round up of workshop findings and conclusion to the conference
4.15pm Finish (and a cup of tea for those that want one!)