Commissioning for Sufficiency and Affordability Katy Burch, Commissioning Support Programme

2 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

3 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’s Trust Commissioning Support Programme 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 4

Change IN Commissioning 5

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 assessment 2.Commissioning decision 3.Strategic needs assessment 4.Market management 5.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 Tips All procurements should be fair, open and transparent All procurements should be subject to competition unless in very exceptional circumstances All procurements should be subject to competition unless in very exceptional circumstances Involve the stakeholders Involve the contract manager in the procurement exercise Involve the contract manager in the procurement exercise Apply the European Procurement Directive Work with providers to innovate Aim to identify the best value for money proposal Collaborate and aggregate Identify your requirements before starting a procurement exercise Identify your requirements before starting a procurement exercise Streamline the procurement process Involve procurement early Minimise spot purchasing Consider sustainability issues where appropriate and relevant Speak to the market Don’t sign up to a provider’s terms and conditions Know contract law Manage procurements 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 ●