Influence the Commissioning Process

Commissioning the most appropriate children and young people's services has never been more important, with a focus on a preventable health service that offers equity, efficiency, effectiveness and excellence. The Lancaster Model provides ongoing local information to influence and contribute to the commissioning process.

Understand

Local need, resources and priorities can be identified via the cyclical health needs assessment process. Data is analysed at individual, neighbourhood and community levels to ensure the appropriate resources are utilised and bespoke priorities are agreed. The process provides the opportunity for services users to discuss their concerns and aspirations, ask for help and information and influence the overall design of service specification.

Plan

The evidenced derived from the health needs assessment process provides local detail to map out and consider the services and interventions required at a community level. This information is next linked to the findings from the skill mix strategy to appropriately utilise the skills and competencies of all the existing staff, increasing efficiency and equitability. This universal approach provides a structure to direct caseload allocation, redistribution of staff, identify any gap or overlaps in service provision and make optimal use of resources.

Do

The data collated from the health needs assessment model provides a focus and vision to engage all partners in the commissioning process. Investment decisions can reflect the needs of children, young people and their families and the required workforce skills and capacity, helping to increase value for money. Proactive intervention services can be delivered at the earliest appropriate time, by targeting resources appropriately and increasing the proficiency of individual staff.

Review

The cyclical nature of the Lancaster model collates ongoing data relating to practice activity and the changing needs of specific users, ensuring service delivery is monitored against expected outcomes.

1 Achieving Better Outcomes - Commissioning in children's services Commissioning Support Programme 2009