Legal Services Commission training information
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is offering free training for legal aid providers in essential business and financial management skills.
The principal objective of the programme is to give providers an understanding of how business efficiencies can be developed, allowing cost reductions and improved profitability to be realised. It will also improve provider’s readiness for the future, providing a general insight into what is to be done to be ready when LSC procurement processes change.
Why are the LSC providing this training?
The programme has been developed in recognition of the fact that all providers will be affected by the proposed changes to the way the LSC contracts with them. To understand the potential impact of change the Provider Readiness and Support team have conducted provider surveys, considering their knowledge and use of IT, and their understanding of finance and financial management.
The survey results were discussed with the regional Provider Reference Groups, who confirmed findings and added further insight into provider requirements.
A wide variety of views expressed directly by providers have also been considered.
Providers will need to understand their costs in delivering a particular service, and also be able to determine the level of profit they wish to make on the work to form part of any bid. This is not only in preparation for the Best Value tendering process, but to also assist them in working within a fixed fee scheme.
Further to this, if the cost of delivery appears to be high, a provider with the relevant business and financial management skills will be able to recognise and implement efficiencies that will assist in reducing costs to a level that will allow them to be more profitable.
What is happening and when?
Training will be delivered primarily through an Online Learning System that, following a short registration process, will be accessible to any provider. This will be available in September.
Face-to-face training seminars will be piloted in Manchester, Bristol and Bridgwater in September and October of this year. Focussed on Crime provider, who are readying for BVT Pilot (e.g. the finance modules help you understand bid price calculations) the five modules being piloted cover:
- Financial Skills (1) – Understanding Your Costs
- Financial Skills (2) – Profitability
- Expanding Your Business
- Alternative Business Structures
- Effective Use of Technology
More detailed information about each of these modules, including a timetable for the seminars can be found by visiting the LSC Provider Training online system at www.legalservicesprovidertraining.co.uk.
This site will allow providers to register to attend the seminars and allow providers to access the online training modules, when they become available in September.
