Commissioning starts before the tender: 5 questions small providers should ask
Commissioning does not begin when a tender is published. Long before that, local partners are identifying needs, shaping services and deciding what outcomes matter. For therapists and smaller providers, understanding those conversations can make it easier to see where their expertise fits. This article sets out five practical questions to help you explain your contribution, build useful relationships and prepare for the right opportunity.
The new information-sharing duty: why trust matters between commissioners and providers
England’s new information-sharing duty aims to give practitioners greater confidence to share relevant information before concerns escalate. I explore what this means for commissioners and providers, why the change is broadly welcome, and how openness, proportionality and feedback can strengthen trust across commissioned services.
What enduring relationships means for children’s services commissioning
The government’s new enduring relationships policy asks children’s services to make trusted, lasting relationships central to care. Drawing on my experience as both a foster carer and commissioner, I explore what this could mean for sufficiency planning, placement decisions, service specifications, funding and the way impact is measured.