Commissioning children's services and the role of the voluntary and community sector

The Laming Inquiry, followed by the publication of Every Child Matters, heralded the start of a debate that would bring about the most significant changes to the provision of Children’s Services for a generation. This document seeks to bring together core principles and challenges, as well as evidence of good practice. We hope it will help professionals in all sectors to share a common understanding of commissioning and the role of voluntary sector plays at the moment and has the potential to play in the future, as we progress our shared goal of improving children’s outcomes.

(Published 2004, 35 pages)

Commissioning drug services for vulnerable young people

This self-assessment tool is designed to assist PCTs and their partners in assessing their knowledge and capability to commission children's and young people's services. It reflects the importance of effective partnerships in commissioning the integrated services, which are fundamental to the improved outcomes of services for children and young people.

(Published April 2007)

Children and Young People's Plan

The Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) is an important element of the Every Child Matters reform programme. It has been a powerful force in driving forward better local integration of children's services and the development of local partnership arrangements.

A series of 12 papers that presents the findings from NFER’s analysis of Children and Young People’s Plans (CYPPs) were produced. Number 3 Commissioning and Resourcing in Children and Young People’s Plans sets out how aspects of commissioning and resources feature in CYPP and includes illustrative examples.