Conservatives outline third sector social services role

The Conservatives, speaking at the final day of their conference, at a fringe event, have talked of their belief that social enterprises amongst other third sector organisations could play a prominent role in the delivery of social services. This is comes days after the Conservatives outlined plans to use social enterprises to operate a wide range of public sector services, with payment being results based.

Gemma Hampson of SocialEnterpriseLive.com writes:

Shadow secretary of state for work and pensions Theresa May believes social enterprises have a part to play in delivering social services through personal budgets.

Speaking on the final day of the Conservative party's conference at a fringe event run by Acevo, which represents voluntary organisation bosses, and think-tank Demos, May said 'third sector organisations' were likely to be sub-contracted rather than be the main provider in services operating with personal budgets.

Personalisation, already available for social care, sees service users take control of their social situation or health condition by deciding what their personalised budget should be spent on. It's an initiative supported by both the Labour and Conservative parties.

Although see referred to the broad third sector, when asked specifically about social enterprises by this magazine, May said: 'The model I have in mind is one where social enterprise can play a part. Most of it would be a sub-contractor to a prime contractor.'

However, referring to the Conservative 'pay by results' policy, she said funding could be a barrier.

'The pay by results model means we have to have investment up front and, for a lot of third sector organisations, that's not possible,' she said.

May also mentioned the Social Investment Bank, declaring the initiative was 'worth looking at'. She also said there 'may be' a role for charity in providing brokerage and advocacy services.

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