World class commissioning

In December 2007 the Department of Health published its vision on world class commissioning and the organisational competencies - the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and characteristics - that PCTs will need to develop to reach world class status. commissioners.

World class commissioning will deliver a more strategic and long-term approach to commissioning services, with a clear focus on delivering improved health outcomes. There are four key elements to the world class commissioning programme:

A vision for world class commissioning which sets out the Department of Health's aspirations for the way health and care services are commissioned.
A set of world class commissioning competencies which describe the knowledge, skills, behaviours and characteristics commissioners will need to reach world class status.
An assurance system to put in place the appropriate frameworks for developing world class commissioning and ensuring health outcomes are improving.
A support and development framework which will give commissioners access to the tools they need to drive improvements, either by sharing services and good practice, developing internal resources, or buying in external expertise, for example through the Framework for Securing External Support for Commissioners (FESC).

The overriding objective of the programme is to transform the way health and care services are commissioning - adding life to years and years to life.

Sources of further help - external links

The Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO), commissioned by the Department of Health, has developed a tool which helps commissioners to link health outcomes and expenditure. This tool can be used by all PCTs and there are also Spend and Outcome Factsheets for every PCT in England. The capacity to link spend and outcome is made explicit in two of the World Class Commissioning competencies; '6 prioritise investment' and '11 make sound financial investments'; this practical tool is devised to support commissioners to do this. Please click here for further information and to download PCT Spend and Outcome Factsheet and Tool.

World Class Commissioning of Primary Care and Community Services. These documents are for commissioners and form part of a series of supporting guides to help primary care trusts become world class commissioners of primary care and community services. They have been co-produced by NHS East of England, NHS Primary Care Contracting (NHS PCC), and the Department of Health.

Transforming community services and world class commissioning: resource pack for commissioners of community services. This resource pack sets out the principles of good practice when commissioning community services, showcases examples of existing good practice through case studies in 6 clinical areas and signposts commissioners to the most pertinent and relevant information. January 2009.

Equality Impact Assessment: World class commissioning assurance framework, world class commissioning of primary medical care guidance. This report provides an in-depth assessment of the impact of the world class commissioning assurance framework and the related World class commissioning of primary medical care, on the six key equality dimensions of race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.

T he Role of the Primary Care Trust Board in World-class Commissioning provides primary care trust boards with guidance on their specific role and purpose in the context of the Department of Health’s aspirations for world-class commissioning.

This letter from Mark Britnel, Director General of Commissioning & System Management, and Andy McKeon, Managing Director of Health, Audit Commission, outlines how the Audit Commission Auditors’ Local Evaluation (Use of Resources from 08/09) will provide a basis to help PCTs develop under the World Class Commissioning assurance system.

How to Achieve World Class Commissioning Competencies: Practical tips for NHS commissioners sets out guidance on how local NHS commissioners can help achieve the Government's goal to drive up commissioning capability within the NHS. October 2008.

The PCT Portal is an expanding resource to support commissioners on their journey to becoming world class. From its pages you can access details of providers supplying services in support of the world class commissioning competencies. You can also network online, learn from each other and share challenges and solutions. August 2008.

Commissioning to Make a Bigger Difference: A guide for NHS and social care commissioners on promoting service innovation looks at innovation in commissioning, with a special focus on world-class commissioning. It is designed to help health and social care commissioners fulfil their roles in stimulating innovative ideas in the areas of promotional, preventive and care interventions, along with innovative service and marketplace development overall. 25 June 2008.

A world class commissioning assurance system, which is a new approach to measuring PCT commissioning performance, has been launched this week by the Department of Health and the NHS. It is one nationally consistent system, managed locally by the SHAs, which will hold commissioners to account, reward performance, and ensure health outcomes are improving. The assurance system will measure performance in three key areas, health outcomes, competencies, and governance. It will also include an assessment of the PCT's potential for improvement. 29 June 2008.

Monthly updates, and further policy, guidance and tools for supporting world class commissioning is available on the Department of Health's web site.

In response to the Department of Health's vision, a Commissioning Assurance System has been piloted in the North West to measure PCTs progress Towards World Class Commissioning. The system assessed health outcomes and quality, competency and governance, and was based on a mix of direct observation/data, self-certification and peer review.

Towards World Class Commissioning Competency is a report submitted to the Department of Health's consultation on the vision and delivery of world class commissioning. Published by the Health Services Management Centre at Birmingham University, the report welcomes the Department's recent focus on commissioning, and reflects many of its conclusions regarding the capabilities required by commissioners.