1. Commissioning in times of austerity
Ian Staples
Integrated Lead Commissioner
Complex Needs
Walsall MBC / CCG

2. My Background
Working in health and social care for over 35 years, prior worked 4 years in industry
6 years as a nurse in NHS
11 years as an operational manager in local authority
6 years as senior manager in local authority
12 years in joint / integrated commissioning

3. Integrated Commissioning Complex Needs
Team of 3, Lead Commissioner and 2 Commissioning Managers
Responsible for all specialist health and social care services covering Adults with Learning Disabilities, Autism , Physical Disabilities and Sensory Disabilities
Pooled Budget for Learning Disabilities (72/28 share)
S75 Partnership arrangement
Local Authority lead agency

4. The challenges Need to make substantial savings
Need to commission services for autism with no funding
End of Supporting People programme and inherited 4 Housing Support Contracts worth £1,059,000

5. What we did Decommissioned the 4 contracts at a value of £1,059,000
Commissioned a new Housing Support service to replace above at a value of £180,000
Commissioned a new Autism Befriending service at a value of £43333
Commissioned an Autism Community outreach service at a value of £49,677
Delivered £785,990 to Council Savings Plan

6. Additional Costs
Apart from existing resources we commissioned specialist engagement services to consult with users of the services at a total cost of £9500 (Including BSL Interpreters)

7. Key Actions Review of existing services
Establish desired outcomes and new models of delivery
Clarify prevention
Business Cases
Consultation
EQUIA and Risk
Procurement and legal – TUPE, pilots, transitionary contracts
Coproduction – Shared Solutions
Statutory Duties

8. Drivers to change Care Act Children and Families Act
National Autism Strategy – Statutory Guidance
Savings
STP
TCP
Resilient Communities and Locality Models
Consolidation of specialist services

9. Key lessons learnt Challenge provider claims and assumptions
Validate through independent user consultation
Move from Block to activity and flexibility – Floating support
Use voluntary sector expertise – particularly in relation to research and evidence base
Passion and belief
Outcome focussed
Use pilots to learn
Prevent TUPE if of no benefit
Impact on partners – particularly NHS

10. Questions

11. Contact
Ian Staples