Social Value Toolkit for District Councils

Introduction:

• The toolkit is designed for district councils to harness the benefits of social value in their procurement processes.
• Social value refers to the broader financial and non-financial value created by an organisation, impacting individual and community well-being, social capital, and the environment.
• The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 mandates public sector organisations to consider how their commissioned services can enhance the economic, social, and environmental well-being of an area.

Benefits of Social Value:

• Offers better value for money by expecting suppliers to deliver more than just core services.
• Increases local spend, especially with SMEs and VCSEs.
• Provides opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and promotes social mobility.
• Encourages a responsible supply chain and environmental sustainability.
• Strengthens communities and fosters innovation.

Developing a Social Value Policy:

• A Social Value Policy bridges the gap between the Council Plan and its procurements.
• The policy ensures that everything in the Council Plan is relevant to procurement.
• The document provides a draft template for councils to create their own Social Value Policy.

National Social Value Measurement (TOMs) Framework:

• Developed by the National Social Value Task Force, the TOMs framework helps organisations identify and measure the social value delivered through contracts.
• The framework revolves around 5 themes: promoting skills and employment, supporting local business growth, creating healthier communities, improving the environment, and promoting social innovation.

Including Social Value in Procurements:

• The toolkit recommends a standalone weighting of 10-20% for social value in the evaluation of procurements.
• Bidders are provided with a set of measures and values to select and propose their social value contributions.
• The total value of all contributions represents the overall social value offer to the council.

Capturing and Evaluating Bidders' Offers:

• Offers can be captured using the Social Value Portal, ensuring transparency.
• Bids are assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively, based on the criteria outlined in the ITT.

This toolkit serves as a comprehensive guide for district councils to understand, implement, and benefit from social value in their procurement processes.

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