Learning from the South East RCC – How can RCCs promote collaboration across agencies for commissioning?

Catriona Moore recently spent time working with multi-agency stakeholders on commissioning children's services. Here, she shares the learnings that the South East RCC will take forward.

In a recent workshop, the South East Regional Care Cooperative (RCC) started to explore opportunities for integrated commissioning. The workshop took a novel approach through bringing together stakeholders from Local Authorities, Integrated Care Boards and Constabularies. This combination of perspectives prompted new conversations about how all agencies can work together, and the role which the RCC will take in facilitating this.  

The emerging opportunities for the RCC centred around three main themes: managing risk, sharing learning, and national representation. We hope these themes will act as a useful starting point for other regions considering regional collaboration.  

Although the stakeholder group was predominantly commissioners, we believe that the principles and opportunities raised are equally relevant for providers and those in the VCSE sector. By altering ways of working, the RCC will be able to attract more VCSE provision to the region, which is a priority for diversifying the care available to children in the South East. 

Risk: facilitating and testing new commissioning structures 

One of the primary focuses of the workshop was exploring how the RCC could help LAs to iterate their approach and tolerance to new commissioning structures. The RCC, as a new entity, can help LAs to ideate new approaches to managing risk. The RCC will provide specific consulting support on how to manage budgets in a more creative way, and how to bring stakeholders together to take a shared approach to improving children’s outcomes. Accepted approaches to budget management don’t promote a shared risk model between agencies. The RCC will challenge this way of working and promote organisations working together to manage financial risk jointly. This in turn could help to diversify the market and help attract smaller regional providers and the VCSE sector. 

The RCC's role in this context is to offer a safety net that allows LAs to experiment with new approaches without the fear of immediate repercussions. This could be through a range of interventions: from providing a financial backstop through to creating the space to scenario plan in a safe environment. This support is crucial in fostering a culture where risk is not only accepted but seen as a necessary component of growth and improvement. The workshop highlighted the need for a shift in mindset, where risk is managed strategically rather than avoided. 

Sharing Learning: promoting collaboration and innovation 

Another significant ask of the RCC was to promote shared learning among LAs. Stakeholders proposed convening working groups to give LAs the space to think about long-term strategic planning. This collaborative approach is essential for planning joined-up work across agencies, which in turn supports the creative use and pooling of funds.  

By sharing insights and experiences, LAs can learn from each other and adopt innovative practices that have been successful elsewhere. The workshop underscored the importance of creating new environments – through the RCC - where ideas can be exchanged freely, and where experimentation is encouraged as a means to achieve better outcomes. 

Representing nationally: advocating for change 

The final theme of the workshop was representing LAs at national level. The RCC provides a link between central and local government, ensuring that the needs and challenges of LAs are amalgamated and represented effectively to government and Ofsted. 

By advocating for change and representing the interests of LAs nationally, the RCC can help shape policies that are more responsive to the realities on the ground. This representation is essential for driving systemic change and ensuring that LAs have the support they need to implement innovative and effective practices. 

As LAs continue to face evolving challenges, the support and guidance of the RCC will be instrumental in helping them achieve their goals. The workshop highlighted that the RCC has an important role to play in helping LAs to manage risk, share learning, and represent nationally. By embracing these ideas, RCCs can work hand-in-hand with LAs, youth justice, health and the VCSE sector to build a more resilient and innovative future. 

A visual summary of the workshop.

If you'd like to discuss anything further, please contact Catriona.Morre@mutualventures.co.uk

For more information on our work with RCCs, please click here.