1. Development of  Strategic Commissioning Arrangements

• Production of a market map for each service area providing baseline information of current provision and benchmarking with similar shire counties. Comparison between in-house and external providers.

• Production of commissioning strategies for each service area.
• Review of all block contracts in line with Strategic Programme and Service Plans and ensure strategic priorities and targets are integrated.
• Move towards outcome based contracting and monitoring which reflects both quantitative and qualitative measurements of performance.
• Alignment of Supporting People within the contracting process.

2. To ensure County Council Compliance in relation to Procurement and Risk Management.

Internal contract audit completed to ensure compliance with Late Payments of Debts Act; Contracts modernised in both format and terms and conditions to reflect changes in legislation; Information protocol agreed with National Care Standards Commission (NCSC).

• Production of standards and monitoring process to evaluate provider compliance re financial viability, equal opportunities, health & safety and insurance.
• All staff with commissioning responsibility to receive training on contracting processes, financial regulations and standing orders.
• A percentage of all independent sector contracts will be subject to in-depth scrutiny to evaluate compliance, quality, cost effectiveness, link to the service strategy and business risk.

3. Market Development

Financial market analysis of Children's Services to inform residential and fostering commissioning strategy.

Drafted modernised Terms & Conditions for Domiciliary Care.

• Ongoing work with Residential / Nursing Sector to establish future purchasing requirements and market stabilisation.
• Stabilisation of the market via alternative contracting methods e.g. use of Health Act Flexibilities and block purchasing in the Residential / Nursing Sector.
• Achieve parity of terms and conditions between DCC and Independent Care Providers to assist with recruitment.

4. Centralised electronic filing system for all contracts

Information sharing and electronic data distribution within the Directorate, Health and external providers to enhance the communication and efficiency in line with commissioning and "e" government strategies.

• Providers to access information about forthcoming tenders or business opportunities.
• Electronic tendering and provider selection.
• Development of market information resource.