What is Commissioning?

The government are keen to improve public service reform and see commissioning of services as crucial to this, acknowledging that in many circumstances the third sector are best placed to deliver many of these services more effectively than public and private sector organisations.  This has led to the government introducing a number of policies to increase the commissioning of services from the third sector.

The Compact defines commissioning as:-

'The cycle of assessing the needs of people in an area, designing and then securing appropriate service' (Commissioning Guidance, 2009)

It is the process used by local authorities and NHS bodies to provide services for people living in the areas they serve.  Many commissioning models exist but the cycle generally consists of four stages, these being:-

  • Analysis - Identifying what is needed
  • Planning - How to meet those needs
  • Sourcing - Who is best able to deliver services to meet those needs
  • Monitoring and Review - Assessing the performance of those services against original objectives to feed back into the commissioing cycle

The Compact provides a very useful guide on commissioning which can be accessed by clicking here.

Local Commissioning in Warrington

NHS Warrington

Our Vision: "A Healthier Warrington for All"

We will achieve this by working with the population to improve their health and well being and enabling people in Warrington to become healthier. We will prioritise prevention of ill-health but if, and when, people do become ill, we will ensure they receive high quality responsive health care services. We will use resources wisely and work to ensure that we provide patient centred services to address local need.

NHS Warrington has developed, with its partners, a vision for health and health care. This vision has been developed in line with:

  • Wide Ranging engagement with the public, service users, hard to reach groups, clinicians and partners

  • The development of a joint strategic needs assessment with Warrington Borough Council, which sets out the demographics and the health needs of the local population

  • The World Class Commissioning agenda, which encourages a focus on health and well-being, rather than diagnosis and treatment

  • Changes to the NHS landscape as part of the programme of NHS system reforms

The Warrington NHS website provides some useful information for third sector organisations interested in finding out more about commissioing.  They have provided a very useful Frequently Asked Questions guide and a guidebook which third sector organisations can work through.  There is also a list of lead commissioners on the website.

Warrington Borough Council

Adult Social Care - Integrated commissioning to improve care and dignity in social care

Strengthening the commissioning function in social care is a top national and local priority. Warrington Borough Council has made a concerted effort to use commissioning to lever improvement in services by adult social care providers and to increase dignity for service users, as defined by the Department of Health’s Dignity Challenge. Evidence shows this approach is working, with a significant increase in the number of contractors meeting required standards. Key learning points include: strategic use of available data; recruiting social care staff to the commissioning team and co-locating with social care practitioners; sharing information with providers and working closely with them on improvement and training towards explicit standards of care; extensive user and carer involvement in the monitoring, planning and commissioning of services.

The Council’s understanding of ‘Dignity in care’ is the kind of care, in any setting, which supports and promotes a person’s self respect. This includes providing an appropriate environment, and assisting people to maintain autonomy, control and a quality of life that can reasonably be expected by anyone within our society, regardless of difference. The 10 points in the Dignity Challenge are:

  1. Have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse. 
  2. Support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family. 
  3. Treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service. 
  4. Enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control. 
  5. Listen and support people to express their needs and wants. 
  6. Respect people’s right to privacy. 
  7. Ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution. 
  8. Engage with family members and carers as care partners. 
  9. Assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self-esteem. 
  10. Act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation.

Central Procurement: Doing business with the council

Introduction

Procurement is a key activity of the council. We spend around £150m per year on supplies and services. The information provided is based on practices within the council and follows standard practice throughout local authorities and central government.

Our procurement practices:

- are transparent, auditable and reasonable
- comply with all relevant and current EU and UK law and follow best practice
- support the council's strategic priorities throughout the procurement process
- ensure value for money
- promote the development of a partnering approach, whilst ensuring market stimulation and   sustainability
- encourage local businesses, smaller enterprises and the Third Sector to engage with us and - compete for council work.

Commissioning Events in Warrington

BEES KNEES - Intelligent Commissioing Conference - Alford Hall, 26th May 2010

The Warrington CVS organised the above Commissioning Conference and invited guest speakers including John Dawson from NAVCA and commissioners from Warrington Borough Council and NHS Warrington to talk to local third sector organisations about the commissioning agenda.  John Dawson's presentation entitled 'What the heck is Commissioning' can be viewed here.

Useful Documents/Resources

Follow the links below to access some useful documents and resources which will help to guide you through the commissioning and procurement process:-

Go-Tenders

Smaller Supplier - Better Value

Think Smart, Think Voluntary

Tendering for Public Contracts - A guide for small businesses

Working Through Larger Suppliers

Supply2.gov.uk - This is the national lower-value contract opportunity portal.

A guide developed by NAVCA and Compact Advocacy which helps you find who to direct local enquiries to - even if "commissioner" is not in their job title can be accessed here.