ACTIVITY TWO: PLAN

Activity Two comprises stages 4 and 5 of the commissioning process. Activity Two focuses on setting priorities and planning. This period of activity takes place during July - September.

The DH and DfES Guidance provides guidance against each of these stages.

Stage 4: Identify resources, set priorities: ‘Agree on the nature and scale of the local challenge, identify the resources available and set priorities for action’

Stage 5: Plan services – focus on prevention: ‘Plan the pattern of service most likely to secure priority outcomes, considering carefully the ways in which resources can be increasingly focused on prevention and early intervention’

What is involved in this activity?

1. Analyse existing services and potential service providers

• Map services against outcomes, needs and resources attached to each service - Include those delivered by all providers (including statutory, voluntary and community sectors)
• Analyse service information to identify correlations, overlaps and gaps in service provision

2. Set priorities

• Use the findings of your assessment of need – including national and local priorities and drivers
• As the Children’s Trust has adopted an age model [0-7, 8-12, 13+] it makes sense to incorporate priorities with the age bands
• Use the findings of service analysis (point 1 above)

3. Identify resources

• Identify resources available
• Identify external resources that could be utilised eg. external funding

4. Agree planning and commissioning recommendations

• Make recommendations about service delivery
• Consider procurement/contractual requirements for service delivery
• All recommendations must be based on improving outcomes
• All recommendations must be evidence based
• Recommendations should be linked to the age band model [0-7, 8-12, 13+] and other appropriate and relevant models you have used eg. geography
• Consider the impact of the recommendations and where else they will impact – what other outcomes and needs will be affected by the recommendations

5. Identify potential cross cutting issues

• Contact relevant Aligned Partnerships and other commissioners where there may be cross cutting issues
• Work with other commissioners to determine whether an issue/priority can be progressed jointly
• Set out arrangements for progressing jointly

6. Produce a draft Commissioning Strategy

• Identify the outcomes you want to achieve
• Provide an outline of your assessment of need
• Identify your priorities – linked to outcomes
• Identify the resources available
• State your recommendations and their impact
• If any shared cross cutting issues/priorities have been identified, state
• Who the shared issue is with
• What the shared issue is
• How you have agreed to progress this

7. Forward the draft Commissioning Strategy to the Children’s Trust Strategic Partnership

• The Children’s Trust Strategic Partnership will discuss the Strategy
• Cross cutting issues and opportunities for joint working will be identified

8. Share information with stakeholders

• Share your Commissioning Strategy or an Executive Summary/recommendations with key stakeholders
• This may include existing providers and potential providers
• Whatever information is shared, it must be done in a way that is appropriate for the audience

What are the outcomes of this activity?

• An understanding of the local market – providers, supply and demand, gaps
• Clear set of priorities to work towards
• Understanding of resources available
• Comprehensive Commissioning Strategy

What tools and resources are there to support you?

• Market analysis Toolkit - this toolkit will help you to map services and look at other areas of market analysis
• Preparing a Commissioning Strategy ( 100kb) – this document will offer guidance and suggested templates for you to use when preparing and drafting a commissioning strategy
  

Who can support you to complete this activity?
You should identify individuals from within your organisation that can support you to complete tasks within this activity.

If you want to speak with someone about anything on this page please contact the Commissioning Team on 0191 566 1847 or email: sct@sunderland.gov.uk