social enterprise

Platform is Hope Street Centre's unit for emergent provider organisations. We work with Health organisations, start ups, and Local Authority based staff in starting and developing their enterprises in health and social care and CYPS, encompassing a wide range of services.

 

 

NHS policy context has changed substantially in the last few years, opening up the NHS as a market and encouraging 'plurality of supply'. The NHS (via Primary Care Trusts and GP Led Commissioning) has moved away from providing services to commissioning services. This direction of travel was given added impetus in 2008 with the 'right to request' afforded to NHS staff to request a provider contract and develop a business case to provide services.

 

At Voice 11 March 30th 2011, the Secretary of State for Health has announced the extension on this policy as ‘Right to Provide’ and announcing £10 million to support the emergence of new enterprises.

 

Existing forms of start up business support are less appropriate for the health and social care sector, as in many cases the need is to assist entrepreneurs to get to ‘first base’. Many of the entrepreneurs fall at the first hurdle through lack of support to develop a business case, complexity of navigating ideas through the system, and lack of time as many are full time clinicians and professionals.

 

National commissioning policy supports the idea that social enterprise or ‘alternative provider’ models may be more effective than traditional models of care at addressing complex health problems and well being improvements.

 

To download our Social Enterprise ‘Little Book’ Click here

 

 

 

Sector Specific Business Planning & Start-up Support

This encompasses: mapping the market, defining the needs, developing a service profile, developing a profile or brand, defining services or products, process and outcome indicators, financial planning, cash flow projections, tariff and funding flow implications, and writing the business plan.

 

 

Development of Bids and Tenders, Procurement

Assistance in developing and writing a credible bid that effectively addresses the specification and the needs of the population to be served. Navigating the NHS procurement systems, understanding NHS corporate citizenship, clinical governance and regulation requirements to be 'tender ready'.

 

 

Contracts

Advice on most appropriate contract routes and implications e.g. SPMS, PMS, APMS, new community contracts, development of process and outcome indicators, contract drafting.

 

 

Legal Aspects

Assistance in determining the best ‘type’ of provider e.g. limited partnership, community interest company, limited company, community benefit society etc.

 

Advice and assistance with processes, board constitution, HR and TUPE implications and governance arrangements.

 

 

Coaching and Team Development

Mentoring and coaching: team or individual, facilitation, team development sessions.

 

Developing the business: new markets and opportunities (New 3Si coaching programme - 3rd Sector Innovation)

 

 

Public Engagement Processes

Advice and assistance in developing effective engagement strategies and techniques: survey methods including on-line surveys, focus groups, ethics requirements and consultation events.

 

 

Developing a Model of Care

Advice and assistance in developing effective models of care, pathways, skill mix and best practice.

 

 

Education Programmes

Accredited education programmes for social entrepreneurs including action learning and ILM modules, plus on-line learning options.

 

 

Networking

Putting new providers in touch with each other through our networking groups.