What are we doing in Staffordshire?

A multi-agency Joint Commissioning Executive was set up in May 2009 under new terms of reference to oversee the establishment of a small Joint Commissioning Unit from April 2010. This was preceded by t he completion of a Self Analysis of our current Joint Commissioning governance, activity, and capacity & competences on behalf of the Governments Commissioning Support Programme (CSP) for Children's Trusts.

Word Self Analysis (228kb)
PDF Self Analysis (165kb)

Once the Self Analysis by partners across the Trust was complete, a Commissioning Strategic Change Plan was produced, based on it's findings. This forms the basis of a formal agreement between the Trust and the Commissioning Support Programme and acts as a catalyst for change & improvement in our Joint Commissioning arrangements.

Click here to find out more about the Commissioning Support Programme:
http://www.commissioningsupport.org.uk/

Existing Joint Commissioning activity:

CAMHS Strategic Commissioning

The former CAMHS Strategic commissioning group was recently split into two new more focused groups under new terms of reference, in a move toward greater objectivity. There is now one group for strategic commissioning and another group for service providers & clinicians. Ongoing links between the two will ensure that providers and clinicians are able to help shape and influence planning decisions without any conflicts of interest compromising the effectiveness of the commissioning group. CAMHS Strategic Development and commissioning is currently aligned to broader joint commissioning development. CAMHS is scheduled to be incorporated within the JCU later in 2010.

Find out more at:
Contact Pete Gray; CAMHS Strategic Development Manager; Peter.gray@staffordshire.gov.uk

Drug and Alcohol Commissioning for Young People

As with CAMHS above, Young People's Commissioning for substance misuse has made great progress since 2007. The numbers of young people accessing specialist support for drug and alcohol problems has improved 40% in Staffordshire since 2007, and the commissioning process used has been highlighted on both the Every Child Matters and Commissioning Support Programme websites as an example of good practice with regard to involving young people and the equitable involvement of providers in the commissioning cycle.

Click here to view the case study:
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/EP00397

Contact Alison Perry; Young People's commissioning officer, substance misuse: Alison1.perry@staffordshire.gov.uk

Teenage Pregnancy Partnership

Following a recent review the Staffordshire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership have made the decision to recruit to a new post of Teenage Pregnancy Coordinator. This jointly funded post will take the lead for strategic planning and commissioning of these services, and will initially be managed by South Staffordshire PCT, with the future plan being to move into the staffing structure of the Joint Commissioning Unit from late 2010 onwards.

Find out more at: /commissionerparents/strategy/

Contact Alison Spender; Staffordshire Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Coordinator: Alison.spender@southstaffspct.nhs.uk

Aiming High for Disabled Children

Another new, jointly funded post is that of the Aiming High for Disabled Children Commissioning Officer, which was the first post to be established within the Joint Commissioning Unit. The post will is line managed by the Joint Commissioning Unit Manager and the work of the new officer will be directed by the Aiming High Board in accordance with the Aiming High Strategy. Commissioning activity under Aiming High, especially with regard to the formal pooling of resources will provide important learning experiences for other work streams in due course.

Contact Carolyn Knight; Aiming High for Disabled Children commissioning officer: Carolyn.knight@staffordshire.gov.uk

Commissioning at District and sub-district level and the role of the new Locality Commissioning Team:

Central to the development of the Joint Commissioning Unit and associated commissioning practice is the need to enhance the relationship between central (County) commissioning structures, and locality (District & sub-district) structures, such as the District Children's Trust Boards and local thematic partnerships, community & learning partnerships.

There also need to be robust links with Practice based commissioning clusters in time. This will help reduce duplication and wasted resources, develop complimentary services, commission services to meet current gaps, and by better capturing local information improve the way centrally commissioned services are planned and commissioned to meet local need.

Following a recent restructure, the former Children's Fund Team and the JCU Manager have each taken responsibility to act as 'first point of contact' within the JCU for commissioning advice and guidance for local partnerships.

Contact details for the Locality Commissioning Team are as follows:

Lichfield & Cannock Chase Districts: Margaret Crook - Lead Locality Commissioning Officer; tel 01785 854227

Tamworth & East Staffordshire Districts: Marie Marshall - Locality Commissioning Officer; tel 01785 277141

Stafford & South Staffordshire Districts: Richard Hodgens - Locality Commissioning Officer; tel 01785 277063

Newcastle-u-Lyme & Leek/Moorlands Districts: Martyn Baggaley (JCU Manager); tel 01785 278710

All emails are: Firstname.lastname@staffordshire.gov.uk

The new team also has a lead in three key areas of project management work for 2010-11:

1. The development of a commissioning strategy and recommendations to support the work of the LAA NI56 County Healthy Weight Group

2. The production of a commissioning strategy and recommendations for a review of Speech and Language services.

3. Retains a lead role in the review process for services for young carers.

Last Modified: 27/04/2010 15:27:07
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