Policy Hub
On 3 Jul 2006, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) published a report (Third Sector provision of employment-related services: a report for the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)) which questions whether there is the capacity in the third sector to deliver key public services in areas such employment, health, community care and children's services, as the government seeks to increase the role of the private and voluntary (third) sector in public service provision.
The report disputes the claim that the third sector has a consistently better record in the provision of employment services than in-house staff and argues that where Jobcentre Plus staff have been allowed the same flexibilities and funding as private sector companies or charitable organisations, they have been able to compete with, if not surpass, the performance of contractors.
The report also warns that the advocacy role and independence of voluntary organisations could be compromised as the reliance on government contracts increases.
The report can be viewed on the PCS
website