Commissioning for Sufficiency and Affordability

Katy Burch, Commissioning Support Programme

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Commissioning Support Programme

●Aims to support CTs to deliver improved outcomes for CYP through more effective commissioning

●Sponsored by DoH and DCSF●2 year programme●Includes:

Universal offer Bespoke support to individual CTs

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Commissioning Support Programme Offer Includes:

●Capability building around commissioning: Programme for Lead Members Programme for senior commissioners in

CTs Accredited Commissioning Skills Training Commissioning Development Materials

●Regional events, action learning and SIGs●Access to on-line resources and support●Bespoke consultancy support for Children’s

Trusts based on Self Analysis and Planning

The role of the Commissioning Champion

Commissioning Champions

Children’sTrust

CommissioningSupportProgramme

• Agrees a programme of support with CSP• Identifies good practice• National/regional/sub regional input/sharing/development• Informs colleagues of opportunities for training / collaborative learning

•Provides strategic leadership for change across Children’s Trust

•Core commissioning team co-ordination

• Informing the Children’s Trust board

DRIVE PULL

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Change IN Commissioning

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Commissioning for LAC – drivers● Increased referrals - increased number of children

in care● Southwark ruling● Sufficiency Requirement for Local Authorities● New Regs ● Chief Exec savings targets for children’s services● Ongoing patchy performance re: placement

stability + outcomes for looked after children and care leavers

● Concerns about market sustainability ● Personalisation

What do commissioners want?

●Quality + good outcomes●Best match to need as possible●Low cost as possible

What’s required?

●Improved understanding of need + evidence base + matching with provision *CHALLENGE*

●Improved dialogue with providers throughout the commissioning cycle

●Better understanding of impact + VFM●Better embedded and systematised ways of

doing things (e.g. stop the spot!; regional and local commissioning; brokerage; involvement of CYP and families)

What’s required?

●More refined techniques for purchasing including to assure a level playing field and market sustainability as well as efficiency and quality

●More joined up commissioning e.g. across Housing + Social Care; across Health + Social Care; across SEN + Health + Social Care.

●Improvements in assessment and care planning

Ways in…●Sufficiency Guidance and Good Practice Case

Studies●Training materials for use with

commissioners in Children’s Trusts●Work with CT commissioner groups to agree

frameworks and principles●Challenge element to our bespoke

consultancy in Trusts●Regional workshops and events●On line materials + links to others

Sufficiency Duty Statutory Guidance● Key gaps identified by LAC commissioners and

providers are addressed by statutory guidance for consultation in five commissioning standards:

1. Individual assessment2. Commissioning decision3. Strategic needs assessment4. Market management5. Securing services

● Commissioning Support Programme guide to commissioning

● Sets out the sector’s view of commissioning and identifies the 18 most important components to get right

Procurement TipsAll procurements should be fair, open and transparent All procurements should be subject to

competition unless in very exceptionalcircumstances

Involve the stakeholde

rsInvolve the contract

manager in the

procurement exercise

Apply the

European

Procurement

Directive

Work with providers to

innovateAim to

identify the best value for money proposal

Collaborate

and aggregate

Identify your requirements

before starting

a procurement

exercise

Streamline the

procurement process

Involve procureme

nt early

Minimise spot purchasing

Consider

sustainabilit

y issues

where

appropriate

and

relevant

Speak to the market Don’t sign

up to a provider’s terms and conditions

Know contract law

Manage

procurement

s as projects

A Commissioning Framework Should Include the following…• Definition and scope of commissioning, including

locality arrangements• Commissioning process• Commissioning principles or

standards• Toolkits for commissioning

activities

● Outcomes focused – decisions● Evidence based - decisions● Transparent and fair – processes● Contestability – where appropriate to drive

innovation and select the best in-house or external provider

● Challenge – to in-house and external practitioners

● Value for money – of all services● Performance management – for all services

–Commissioning Principles may include…

Commissioning Support Programme

●www.commissioningsupport.org.uk●Katy.burch@commissioningsupport.org.uk