This practical text takes you methodically and logically through the challenging task of commissioning and procuring public services across the health and social care sector. Split into four parts, it moves step-by-step through each stage of the commissioning cycle established by the Institute: Plan Do Review Analyse Chapters include key terms which support learning, case studies which help you apply the theory to different contexts and exercises which encourage reflection. The book is essential reading for those taking postgraduate courses in commissioning and those studying management and leadership in health and social care at postgraduate level. It is also valuable reading for professionals working in the health and social care sector.

Key need 1 Health professionals increasingly need to make decisions on purchasing and resourcing as more control is devolved to health and social care providers.

The book, illustrated with case examples, identifies and makes explicit the often diverse values of those involved in healthcare commissioning, whether as commissioners, providers or users of services. It provides a skills base and other support processes for working with differences in values held by those engaged in making decisions.

It is essential that in today's public sector, social care and health managers have a thorough and critical understanding of best practice in commissioning services. This guide has been developed to underpin core aspects of commissioning services in health and social care with tools and strategies that really work. The authors go through the commissioning process step-by-step in order to help the reader better understand the following: · The distinguishing characteristics of commissioning ; · how commissioning is affected by changes in the public sector generally and health and social care in particular; · the significant potential for improved service quality and value for money arising from commissioning; · how good commissioning can engage in productive conversations that can lead to better outcomes for patients, clients and the community. There are sections on specific skills needed for good commissioning, the challenges many face and how to approach them, and what makes a good commissioning manager.

Health and social care commissioning is a values-driven as well as evidence-driven enterprise. However, whereas there has been an expectation that the evidence-base of commissioning should be made fully explicit, the corresponding values-base has been left largely implicit. The book addresses this subject through a detailed discussion of values and values-based practice, illustrated with case examples, and by developing a critique of existing commissioning. This approach enables commissioners to identify and make explicit the often diverse values of all those involved, whether as commissioners, providers or users of services. It provides a skills base and other support processes for working with differences in values held by all those engaged in making commissioning decisions. This will be essential reading for doctors, both experienced and in training, commissioning managers, professional staff in NHS Foundation Trusts and the private sector and all 'at the sharp' end of practice.

In UK government, commissioners perform the vital task of ensuring that health and social care services meet the needs of the people who use them. Essential for everyone involved in the planning and delivery of these services, this book comprehensively explores what commissioning is, its past, and its future. A wide range of leading contributors from fields including health care, social care, and local government takes readers through the key stages of the commissioning cycle and addresses such interrelated themes as the economics of commissioning, user involvement, and commissioning in an era of personalization.

Commissioning is now a key task for health and social care - and yet policy aspirations often outstrip the infrastructure needed to support commissioners as they take difficult decisions about future services and to make commissioning a career of choice for future leaders. While commissioning was important under New Labour, it seems set to be even more fundamental now as commissioners think about future services in an era of austerity. Against this background, this is the first comprehensive text on a key area of management practice , exploring what commissioning is, where it has come from and where it might be taking us. With a wide range of leading contributors from fields including health care, social care, local government , the book takes students, practitioners and managers through key stages of the commissioning cycle as well as addressing cross-cutting themes such as the economics of commissioning, user involvement and commissioning in an era of personalisation. It is essential reading for everyone involved in the planning and delivery of health and social care - for social policy students, health and social care practitioners, managers and policy makers alike.