Clear Expectations (Download Only)

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Following Lord Laming’s enquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié, Every Child Matters called for ‘a whole-system reform of the delivery of children’s services’, a focus on joint working and a positive role of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in strategic planning,  commissioning and delivery of services. Joint Commissioning is at the heart of these changes:

'Effective joint planning and commissioning is at the heart of improving outcomes for children and young people. The transition to joint planning and commissioning is a step change that requires clear leadership. Effective joint planning and commissioning necessitates new partnerships, redistribution of power towards the user, strategic understanding of how all outcomes in the local area are met, and a more commercially minded approach to procurement - all focussed on the child and young person.'

Clear Expectations explores the progress the Eastern Region’s Children’s Trusts are making in developing and implementing their joint commissioning approaches, and the impact on the children and young people’s voluntary and community sector. The report explores the statutory sector and VCS perspectives, levels of and changes in funding for the sector across the region.