Commissioning & Transformation

Strategic Commissioning Partner
Pulse was appointed by the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner through successful tender as Strategic Partner to manage its £3.35m annual Victims Services budget from the Ministry of Justice. This service was then integrated with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The Police and Crime Commissioner engaged Pulse as a Strategic Partner to ensure that the provision of Victims Services is made available to those who need them at the right time, is delivered to a high standard and delivers a service which is of benefit to the wider community. Our service included mapping of VCFSE sector provision and capacity building support, development of a GM Victims Strategy, a GM Victims Services Outcomes Framework, and a GM Victims Services Commissioning Plan, development of a quality standard, development of a Performance Management Framework for Victims Services, commissioning of services, and grant management and monitoring, including reporting to the Ministry of Justice. Pulse also delivered a range of social value achievements including opportunities for the Women Offender Alliance with Laing O-Rourke’s Airport Academy.

Clare Monaghan, Assistant Director, Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire at GMCA said “Pulse have provided experience, expertise and innovation. Pulse have developed a solid framework for evidencing, evaluating and budget planning, to implement the requirements of the Victim Services Grant. They have built up good working relationships with organisations providing Victim Services; evidenced by the co-operation in the development of the performance management framework and the high level of performance reporting received from the services. Pulse have supported victim’s services network development, including capacity building. They have worked with Greater Manchester authorities to understand their strategic intentions for victim services commissioning and ensure the service is relevant to Greater Manchester. Pulse have worked with partners at both regional and local levels to understand the needs of victims and develop options for Victims Services Commissioning providing GMCA with the tools to achieve positive outcomes for victims”.

Homecare Transformation Programme
Pulse are commissioned by Trafford Council to support the development of its Homecare Transformation Programme. This has included our development of a Homecare Workforce Development Programme aimed Trafford’s commissioned homecare and reablement providers, to improve services across the Borough. Pulse has developed a programme of training in consultation with commissioners, local providers, and partners including in the local VCFSE sector. The aim is to improve the quality of care, to be more person centred, to improve overall health and wellbeing of people receiving homecare, and to support workforce retention. Training has included areas such as Nutrition & Hydration, Falls Prevention, Let’s Talk, Infection Control, Oral Health, Safe & Well, Pressure Sores Prevention and Self-Neglect.

Lindsey Mallory, Specialist Commissioner (Homecare) at Trafford Council said “Pulse have supported us to develop a workforce development programme for our homecare workforce, from training needs analysis, sourcing local trainers, organising venues and ensuring attendance. They have been efficient and flexible. When the pandemic hit, there was a justifiable reason to postpone the programme, but instead Pulse worked with us to adapt our approach, offering digital sessions and well as safe, face to face training and re-focussing the content and target audience so that we could continue to provide the local health and social care and VCSE sector workforces with essential training.”

Collaborative Assistance & Support (CATS) Programme
Pulse assisted the VCFSE sector in Liverpool to form partnerships in response to cuts in adults and children’s services budgets. We provided facilitation support, bringing together VCFSE sector organisations to develop collaborative approaches and service innovations. Pulse facilitated the development of 14 local partnerships and collaborations including a Floating Support Provider Forum, Recovery Partnership, Merseyside Vision Consortium, Accommodation Forum, Refugee Support, Care Community Culture, and Spin-Out Support for Supported Accommodation, and Recovery Services. Our assistance was broad ranging, from partnership building, supporting service redesign, proposals for investment, research, strategy development, business planning, tender support, and technical advice. We also assisted in developing an iNnovation Forum, bringing VCFSEs together with commissioners, creatives, technologists, and private sector partners to share learning and develop new transformative services.