Website of the Department of Health

New standard NHS contracts for community and mental health services

The Department is developing two new standard contracts - one for general community based services and another for specialist mental health/learning disability or substance misuse services - which will be used by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) from April 2009. The standard contracts will be used for health and care services with any provider for new contracts commencing on or after 1 April 2009.

• The new standard NHS contracts for community and mental health services: briefing for the third sector

NHS Next Stage Review: what it means for the Third Sector

Published: 12 December 2008

Overview of the Next Stage Review and how the third sector can become involved in local service planning and delivery.

• NHS Next Stage Review: what it means for the Third Sector

Understanding the new NHS commissioning environment: seminar

Published: 24 November 2008

This seminar provided information about the critical developments in the NHS commissioning environment. The objective of the event was to inform third sector strategic leaders to support organisations in the third and social enterprise sectors to work with Primary Care Trusts and practice based commissioners.

It covered the essential components of commissioning and system management within the NHS and helps to identify and address the key opportunities and issues for third sector and social enterprise organisations. It helps third sector organisations to develop the crucial knowledge needed for them to operate effectively in the NHS commissioning environment.

• Understanding the new NHS commissioning environment - seminar

Compact Week 2008

This year’s Compact Week takes place from Saturday 1 November to Saturday 8 November 2008. The Compact is a 10-year-old agreement which sets out shared commitments and guidelines for working between government and the voluntary and community sector. This national awareness week aims to promote the Compact and engage government departments, regional bodies, local authorities and other public sector partners who have Local and Regional Compacts.

• Find out more about Compact Week 2008 (opens new window)

Third Sector Commissioning Task Force report

Published: 11 July 2006

Practical advice for primary care trusts on how to make the most of voluntary, community and charity organisations when commissioning local services.

• No excuses. Embrace partnership now. Step towards change! Report of the third sector commissioning task force
• Report of the third sector commissioning task force: part II outputs and implementation

The delivery of health and social care by the third sector

Published: 13/02/2007

This report contains the results of research commissioned by the Department of Health to examine the current and potential delivery of health and social care by the third sector.

• Third Sector Market Mapping Report

Making partnerships work

Published: 12/03/2007

This document focuses on the role of third sector organisations as providers within health and adult social care. Case study examples demonstrate how effective commissioning by statutory and NHS organisations working jointly with third sector organisations can lead to a more innovative and dynamic health and social care service, better designed to meet users’ needs.

• Making partnerships work

National Strategic Partnership Forum

The NSPF's role is to help the voluntary, community and public sectors work effectively together to deliver responsive, high quality health and adult social care services for patients, service users and carers.

• About the National Strategic Partnership Forum (NSPF)
• History of the NSPF
• Summary of Statement of Purpose
• NSPF working groups
• National Strategic Partnership Forum members, meetings and minutes
• Contact the NSPF Chair