Seminar 6
Articulating value in a remixed economy of welfare
30th September 2010 10.30am - 3.30pm
This final seminar came at a time of new expectations, possibilities and fears for public services. What we had become used to calling the ‘third sector’ was rebranded as civil society. The expansion of its roles and responsibilities for welfare looks set to continue and intensify. One of the first acts of the coalition government in May 2010 was to launch the idea of a Big Society in which mutuals, cooperatives, charities and social enterprises should have much greater involvement in the running of public services. The coalition has also expressed commitment to local solutions, decentralisation and democratic engagement. But all this is under conditions of spending cuts and reduced services – delivering more for less. Public accountability is paramount and quality assessment is becoming an increasingly important but complex task. In this seminar, academic researchers and practitioners worked together to reflect on lessons from the past and visions for the future.
The seminar was introduced by Professor John Mawson from the Institute of Local Governance. There followed an activity “talking about ‘value’”
Invited speakers and topics:
- Pauline Allen, Health Services Research Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - 'Provider Diversity in the NHS: impact on quality and innovation'
- Claire Moxham, Manchester Business School - ‘Learning to improve? Examining the purpose of performance measurement in UK voluntary and community organisations’ Link to presentation (Opens in a new window)
- Jane Gibbon, Newcastle University Business School - ‘Proving Impact for Leisure Trusts’
- Linda Milbourne, Birkbeck College, University of London - ‘Remodelling the third sector: collaboration or competition’ Link to presentation (Opens in a new window)
There was a workshop session looking at use of the Prove and Improve Toolkits, organisational development, evidencing delivery and regulatory compliance.
Final panel discussion on ‘what next?’ Panel members: Rhiannon Bearne Voluntary Organisations' Network North East; Carol Candler Northern Rock Foundation; Julie Cheetham NHS North West (Director, NHS Cross-Regional SHA Social Value Project)
Doctoral Student Poster winner Deborah Harrison
Sponsored by the Institute of Local Governance (ILG).
