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Commissioning: Learning Improvement Network - Help for commissioners

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

Better commissioning of housing, health and social care services plays a key role in tackling the problem of delayed discharges as well as providing sound services that can be more responsive to older people's needs. We want to help you commission services effectively, and to tackle related issues like staff shortages, training needs and partnership working.

The Government established the principles for this in 'Building Capacity and Partnership in care: an agreement' in 2001.

We have recently appointed Nigel Walker, Director of Care with Housing 21, to lead a national Learning & Improvement Network on better commissioning and the independent sector.  We have recently issued an invitation to join this network

The official national launch of the Commissioning LIN took place on 19th March 2004 and Dr Stephen Ladyman outlined the four tests of fairness in his opening speech.

We have been working with London and the South East since 2002 looking at developing capacity and improving commissioning.  We have two change agents working in this area - Janet Crampton and Fran McCabe plus Alan Clark, an expert in whole systems and complex change processes, capacity building and PCT development.  From this work a benchmarking toolkit has been developed 'A Catalyst for Change'

Learning from each other

The Strategic Commissioning Project provides data on delayed transfers of care in specific areas within London and South East England so that health and social care managers can make comparisons across their strategic health authority.  Please contact aclark@commissioningproject.com for more details.

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