Delivering Efficiencies in Commissioning through Innovation
Abstract
Spirals looked at the commissioning and grant arrangements of this Unitary Council to identify baseline costs and develop a new model that would result in efficiency savings and improve the relationship with the Voluntary and Community Sector in the area.
Results Achieved
- Efficiency savings identified of over £500,000
- An improved model of commissioning that will reduce time commitments for suppliers
- A more effective way of using commissioning and grants to achieve outcomes
We were assigned, by a large unitary authority to look at their commissioning and grants functions and undertake the following two fundamental objectives:
- Map and audit existing business processes and baseline costs (human and other resources)
- Using 'Lean' techniques, identify areas where joined up working across funding departments can be achieved in order to produce savings and identify a road map to achieving this vision. This will include proposals to rationalise or streamline funding arrangements. There will be a need to identify major constraints and critical dependencies in the grants and commissioning environment
We undertook this work through the following workstreams:
- Relational process mapping - using process mapping to identify and understand the relationships between the different commisioning areas as well as understanding the existing good practice and areas for improvement.
- Cross functional process mapping - detailed examiniation of the main seven commissioning teams to identify their processes for identification of need, procuremen and contract monitoring. This area of work also identified th baseline costs and resoure implications of the existing model.
- Desk based research - exploring best practice from other areas and how lessons learnt in other places can be applied to this council.
Results
As a result of this work, six main recommdations were made. The ethos behind these recommendations is to joning the commissioning functions into two key commissioing hubs and to develop a single grants gateway.
The result of implementing the recommendations will be:
- Savings of over £500,000
- A simplified process for applicant organisations
- Greater strategic direction ensuring grants and commissioning impact on outcomes in the most effective way.
Implementation
The Executive Management Group of the council has accepted the recommendations and is now deciding on the best method of implementation.