A key innovation of the Flexible New Deal is the shift from process to outcome focussed commissioning. How should the payment structure for prime contractors be designed to prevent outcome-based payments leading to parking of ‘harder-to-help’ clients? A second key development under FND is the concentration of the prime contractor market in the hands of just a few organisations. This poses a threat to the innovation, diversity and sustainability of the sub-contracting sector, and one that needs to be addressed.
In September this year, the Social Market Foundation will publish a research report, sponsored by Remploy, that addresses these problems, and asks: what more needs to be done to make the Flexible New Deal work?
We would welcome you views and input to the project. Please contact the project lead, Ian Mulheirn, on imulheirn@smf.co.uk
Presentation - The risks and opportunities of personal budgets
23rd July 2008 - SMF Chief Economist Ian Mulheirn was invited to speak at an IPPR seminar with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rt. Hon. James Purnell MP.
Follow the link to visit the IPPR website and download the slides from Ian's speech.
Presentation - Flexible New Deal: Making it Work (PDF)
These slides are based on the presentation given by the SMF at a recent expert roundtable discussion that formed part of our research. The slides look at some of the key outstanding design issues for Flexible New Deal and propose solutions to address them.