Differentiated markets

VCS Engage recognises the diversity of people and needs in the voluntary and community sector (VCS), and this is part of what makes voluntary and community sector organisations of such great value to society. ‘Differentiated markets’ refers to children, young people and their families who have different needs and interests due to age, ability and care requirements. In particular, VCS Engage has concentrated on development and research in the areas of Parenting, Youth Services, and Residential child care. We have also developed specific resources for black and minority ethnic (BME) service providers.

Parenting

VCS Engage has commissioned Parenting UK to host 24 events for local VCS organisations and other parenting service providers. The events will be taking place until March 2008. To find out more, please see the Parenting UK website.

The Toolkit for Commissioners, developed by Parenting UK for the DCSF, is a tool to locate parenting support programmes for replication. All programmes in the Toolkit have been selected for quality and only those with a proven and effective evidence base are included. To learn more about the Toolkit and to access it, click here.

 

Youth services

NCVYS has been taking forward delivery of activities in this area of the programme. The Momentum pilot project has been set up to help networks in the children and young peoples’ sector to develop into more effective in supporting organisations and engaging with children’s trusts. At the core of the Momentum approach, a learning mentor is assigned to each local network to assess the learning needs of participants and match them to the learning opportunities available.

For more information on the Momentum pilot, click here.

 

Residential child care

VCS Engage commissioned The National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (NCERCC) and the Social Care Association (SCA) to carry out research into the impact of market forces on the operation and capacity of the residential child care sector.

The views of voluntary, local authority and independent providers were sought and set in context with a literature review and survey of current developments in the participation of young people in their care and welfare planning in residential care facilities.

Above all, the application of ‘contestability’ to all services has resulted in an emphasis on price in commissioning arrangements, highlighting the concern that quality of service, which should be at least as important as price, is becoming adversely affected.

To read the full report, click here.

Click here to read the summary and appendices.