24 November 2006
Greater user involvement in services offers the voluntary sector its best opportunity to become involved in public sector reform, according to the chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Addressing the NCVO's Public Service Delivery Network's first annual conference on November 24, Stuart Etherington said the sector had an important role to play in identifying needs and helping service users become involved in the design and delivery of services.
'Crucially, involving users, beneficiaries and communities is central to the way of working of the best organisations in the voluntary and community sector. It is not an “add-on” or separate to the main business of the sector, engagement is one of its defining features,' he told delegates.
'Many voluntary and community organisations have a strong track record in meeting people's actual, rather than perceived, needs and this is the quality that government should be working to utilise in reforming public services.'
The 'co-production' concept has been flagged up by public sector big hitters, including Sir Michael Lyons and Audit Commission chief executive Steve Bundred, as the new frontier in public service reform.
Involving users more directly, they say, will encourage more realistic expectations of what services can provide and higher levels of satisfaction.
Etherington said the voluntary sector could also support individuals to speak up for themselves. 'Advocacy, support and advice have always been a key part of the work of voluntary and community organisations. They can support people to understand and make the most of the choices available to them,' he said.
'And they can support them to express preference at the point where services are being designed, as well as at the point of delivery.'
Over the coming months, the NCVO is to consult with members on how they can contribute to the co-production plans.
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