The Cambridgeshire Trust Participation Team

Young People’s involvement in the commissioning process

Local authorities are expected to commission and adopt new forms of delivery and enterprise and enable individuals and communities to have a greater say and control over services. With regard to youth services, the government’s aim is to refocus state-funded youth services on supporting vulnerable young people

Commissioning is the process for deciding how to use the total resource available for children, young people and parents and carers in order to improve outcomes in the most efficient, effective, equitable and sustainable way. Provision can be commissioned from within local authorities as well as from external providers, and can be a mix of the two.

Why involve children and young people?

The Children Act 1989 determines the duty for local authorities to consider the wishes and feelings of children when adults make decisions about them.

In December 1991 the UK Government signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Article 12 in the Convention outlines the right for children to give their opinion on all matters affecting them. This includes decisions made in their families, education, public services and decisions made in local and national policies.

Children and young people should be actively involved in the commissioning process to ensure that those services commissioned are relevant, appropriate and likely to be used. If services are commissioned which reflect the needs and views of children and young people they are far more likely to be effective and have positive outcomes for the families that use them.

Benefits to children and young people:

  • Their ideas are valued and influence the services provided for them.
  • Opportunity to gain valuable experience, skills build confidence and self esteem.
  • Encourages them to get involved in other areas which affect their lives.
  • Supports skills that can be demonstrated on their Record of Achievement or CV.

Benefits to the organisation:

  • Far more likely to commission the best provider – this leads to improved delivery of services.
  • Sends out a clear message to all that the views of children and young people are valued and have a real impact.
  • Provides real evidence for Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, for Hear by Right and inspections e.g. Ofsted, Comprehensive Area Assessment.

:Benefits to the providers

  • Get the opportunity to interact with children and young people who they will be working with or providing services for.
  • Strengthens relationships with children, young people and families.

Areas and Methods of Involvement

Ideally children and young people should be involved at all stages of the commissioning process.

For example, they can get involved in:

  • Assessing needs – this can be done through a number of ways such as sharing life stories/experiences, workshops, conferences, voting, using photos/pictures, surveys and video making.
  • Identifying resources and setting priorities – using workshops, ranking/voting sessions, debates and focus groups. Children and young people may have a good knowledge of resources within their communities.
  • Planning – looking at designs of buildings (inside and out), locations and opening hours.
  • Procuring – presentations, children and young people’s panels and ranking/voting exercises.
  • Monitoring – mystery shopping, project advisory groups, surveys and blogs.
  • Evaluation and learning – for monitoring as well as case studies, life stories, photos, and video.

It is recognised that this will not always be possible but is recommended as good practice.

However you involve children and young people, try and remember to make it fun!

Training and preparation for children and young people.

It is essential that children and young people are supported throughout the process.

Training for children and young people could include:

  • What commissioning is?
  • Interviewing skills.
  • Presentation skills.
  • Critical appraisal skills.
  • Collaborative working.
  • Assertiveness skills.
  • Equality awareness.
  • Data protection and freedom of information awareness.

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