Single organisations, such as Local Authorities, previously had responsibilities over the delivery of services for children and young people. Now, with the development of Children’s Trusts, they have changed to being responsible for ensuring that children's services are commissioned effectively across all children’s outcomes. Children’s Trusts are responsible for local market management.

Market management

Contestability measures the extent that a market is open to new entry and Children's Trusts will support the widening of markets to create more public services.

Clear advantages include increasing provider diversity (including a range of private, voluntary, community and social enterprise models), encouraging innovation, improving quality and better value for money.

A diverse market of providers from which to choose is an important aspect of effective commissioning, but it may not be the reality for many Children's Trusts.

Children’s Trusts have an important role in facilitating the development of local markets to ensure there is a choice of local providers that can respond to identified need.

Service design

Once the needs and priorities of a Children’s Trust have been identified, the broad pattern of service has to be decided to achieve improved outcomes. Services should be mapped to outcomes and to resources, and this will show where there are correlations, overlaps and gaps.

This is the backbone to the joint commissioning strategy and will show which services should be commissioned, commissioned differently or decommissioned. This will also highlight where services may need to change in response to future demand. It will also help services to consider whether increased investment in prevention and early intervention could reduce future costs and improve outcomes.

Changing services may seem difficult and expensive, but should be considered as a way to transform and improve services across a Children’s Trust.