COMMISSIONING

Currency options for the Healthy Child Programme: Transforming Community Services (11th March 2010)
Community services have historically been funded on block contracting arrangements, making it difficult for commissioners to identify what services are being delivered and pay for them appropriately. The publication, Currency and pricing options for community services (DH, January 2009) signalled the need to develop more effective ways of paying for services which reward quality and productivity, and encourage activity which reflects local priorities.

This latest publication is a tool for commissioners of community services that contribute to the first five years of the universal Healthy Child Programme (HCP). Commissioners can use this to develop a more transparent approach to paying for these services. The development of better ways of paying for services will reward quality and productivity, and encourage activity which promotes the aims and outcomes of the HCP.
Document

World Class Commissioning - March 2010 update (18th March 2010)
Monthly progress report on the World Class Commissioning Programme
Update

Successful Commissioning: How to secure value for money through better financial relationships with third sector organisations (17th March 2010)
The National Audit Office has launched this online guide which focuses on those aspects of the commissioning process that are most likely to affect financial relationships with third sector organisations. It looks at how commissioners can help the third sector to deliver services and outcomes that represent value for money. The main characteristics of the guide are that it:

• clearly sets out the main issues for effective financial relationships with third sector organisations;
• makes use of existing guidance in an accessible and practical way, and;
• dispels some of the ‘myths’ that exist around commissioning with the third sector.

Guide

PRESENTATIONS - Commissioning for health services. Your questions answered. (18th March 2010)
The presentations from this event, that was held on 17th March 2010 at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes, are now available.
Presentations

Valuing people now: transfer of funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities from the NHS to local government: final returns 2010/11 by 31 March 2010 (18th March 2010)
From April 2009, funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities transferred from the NHS to local authorities. This letter to PCT and Local Authority lead commissioners gives guidance on implementation and requests final returns for 2010/11 by Wednesday 31 March 2010.
Documents

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

LASSL(DH)(2010)1: Provisional Grant Allocations for the Personal Care At Home Grant for 2010/11 (12th March 2010)
The purpose of this circular is to advise local authorities of their provisional grant allocations for the Personal Care at Home grant from 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011. This grant will be paid via Area Based Grant (ABG).
Information

Ordinary residence: guidance on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services, England (5th March 2010)
This guidance provides information and advice to local authorities (and certain other bodies) on the identification of the ordinary residence of people in need of community care services.

The guidance anticipates the coming into force of section 148 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 which is expected to come into force on 19 April 2010. The guidance is effective from this date. Therefore, on 19 April 2010, this guidance will replace the existing ordinary residence guidance contained in LAC(93)7. From this date, LAC(93)7 will be revoked.
Guidance

Top tips on improving outcomes through better commissioning of adult social care (February 2010)
Local authorities spend about £18 billion each year on adult social care including £11.6 billion on external providers. Millions could be saved each year through more effective and collaborative commissioning, including better procurement of services.

Local authorities are under pressure to reduce expenditure on, and the cost of, adult social care. At the same time, services users and carers expect high-quality services. Members need to understand how services can be improved and how they can be delivered more efficiently.

This guide – one of a series of member guides on procurement – provides tips on how your authority can make savings through better commissioning of adult social care.
Guide

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Under Pressure. Tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population (18th February 2010)
Councils face the challenge of an ageing population as public spending reduces. This report, from the Audit Commission, says most councils do not know enough about the costs of their ageing population. They may also miss the savings that could flow from preventive services and better work with other organisations.
Report

The social determinants of health and the role of local government (3rd March 2010)

This collection of articles assesses what local government can do to tackle the social conditions that lead to health inequalities. Written by distinguished practitioners and academics, the publication builds on the recent Marmot Review report, 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives'.

Some of the articles are deliberately challenging and provocative. Some of them present a picture of what is already happening in local government. Some look to what more local authorities could do, either with additional powers or by using their existing powers and remit. All will challenge and extend your current thinking.

Documents

ALCOHOL

Children, Young People and Alcohol (16th February 2010)
The Youth Alcohol Action Plan (June 08) committed to delivering a social marketing campaign targeting parents and young people to discourage harmful drinking amongst under-18s. This piece of quantitative research was undertaken to inform this work, specifically to: link the usage of, and attitudes towards alcohol; quantify potential audience segments; establish a baseline to measure progress in changing behaviour; and to link data to the DCSF Families-Segmentation.
Publication

Safe. Sensible. Social. Alcohol: Test Purchasing - Innovative Practice (15th February 2010)
Young people are being increasingly innovative in their methods of obtaining alcohol. These include: Proxy Sales (where an adult will buy alcohol on behalf of a young person) and Off-Licences only selling to young people who are known to them.

This booklet sets out case studies that highlight the innovative practice under way in Local Authorities to tackle issues around test purchasing. It is intended to encourage LAs to be similarly creative in their approach to tackling underage drinking.
Booklet

Safe. Sensible. Social. Young people, alcohol and positive activities (15th February 2010)
To include young people, who have been drinking in positive activities raises some challenges, but to simply leave young people outside and at risk of getting into trouble or vulnerable to becoming victims themselves is simply not an option.

This guide aims to give those working with young people practical advice and tools to ensure they – and those they work with – are equipped to deal with this real issue.
Guide

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

North Yorkshire County Council's telehealthcare improves quality of life (11th February 2010)
North Yorkshire County Council has turned to telehealthcare as a way to defuse the demographic timebomb. The council has already trialed it early in two areas as part of its drive for more cost effective healthcare.
Information

CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE

Giving children a healthy start (3rd February 2010)
This report assesses the local implementation of national policy from 1999 to 2009 on the health of children from birth to five years of age in England. It examines local service planning and delivery, including priority setting, and how local bodies can improve service delivery and access for vulnerable groups such as black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, lone and teenage parents. The report discusses the impact of government funding on health outcomes for the under-fives; how effectively local bodies manage their resources; and the extent to which they are providing good value for money. It provides recommendations for national and local bodies, as well as examples of notable practice.
Report

Small steps towards a healthier life (2nd February 2010)
The Food Standards Agency has officially launched SmallSteps4Life – an interactive website to motivate young people to take simple steps towards improving their health and well-being, both inside and outside the classroom.
Information

Promoting the emotional health of children and young people: guidance for Children's Trust partnerships, including how to deliver (January 2010)
The emotional health of children and young people is increasingly recognised as being fundamental to the wellbeing and future prospects of individuals and communities. Emotional health is nurtured primarily in the home, but we know that practitioners and services can and do make a difference.

This non-statutory guidance is for directors and assistant directors of children’s services, directors of public health, commissioning managers in local authorities and Primary Care Trusts. It aims to help Children’s Trust partners to develop a strategic approach to improving the emotional health of children and young people, in line with the aims of NI 50.
Guidance

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

Can equity release help older home-owners improve their quality of life? (28th January 2010)
Around a million older home-owners have at least £100,000 of housing equity, yet they can’t afford the practical help they need to enjoy a good quality of life at home.

This Solutions document reveals how JRF has been working with local authorities, the equity release industry, voluntary bodies and relevant government departments to develop equity release packages that help older people access funds without threatening their entitlement to benefits.
Summary

HEALTH AND SOCIAL C ARE

Engaging and responding to your community: a brief guide to Local Involvement Networks (22nd January 2010)
Local Involvement Networks (LINks) exist in every local authority area of England to give people more influence over how their local health and social care services are planned and delivered.

This guide is for health and social care managers and explains more about LINks. It outlines how, through proactive engagement you can better understand the needs of your community. Working with your LINk should be a key part of commissioning, running and reviewing health and social care services.
Leaflet

LEARNING DISABILITIES

Healthcare for people with learning disabilities: recommendations of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (27th January 2010)
The Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman's report, 'Six Lives', highlighted failings in health and social care services that led to premature and avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities. These letters from David Behan and Anne Williams to SHA chief executives and Directors of Adult Social Services respectively set out the action needed to respond to the recommendations set out in the 'Six Lives' report. Directors of Adult Social Services are reminded of the need to work in partnership with NHS colleagues when reviewing and reporting progress on implementation of the Ombudsmen's recommendations. SHAs are asked to report on progress by March 2010.
Letters

Valuing people now: real jobs for people with learning disabilities (20th January 2010)
The Department of Health have today issued a letter from the National Director for Learning Disabilities to Directors of Adult and Children's social Services and Chief Executives of Local Authorities, Trusts and SHAs. This is an update on the Valuing Employment Now resource pack and a reminder of the business case for investment in supported employment. Employment will remain a top priority.
Letter

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Sexuality - the new agenda (2nd February 2010)
“Sexuality – the new agenda” emphasises the need for a corporate approach to promoting equality. Once seen as a fringe issue of little relevance to the core business of local authorities, sexuality has been brought centre stage by recent legislative developments.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual equality is coming of age and can no longer be seen as an optional extra. Many successful initiatives have been undertaken by local authorities throughout England and Wales.

This publication aims to cover:

• service delivery and customer care
• community development and involvement
• local authority employees
• monitoring and evaluation.

Publication

Tackling Domestic Violence (28th January 2010)
About one in four women can become victims of domestic abuse. For many, the crime will go unreported and unnoticed. Three years ago Oxfordshire County Council and local partners decided more needed to be done to support women and their children. Their answer to the problem was the Domestic Abuse Champions Network.The scheme has created specialists in domestic abuse, in public and voluntary-sector organisations throughout the county.

There are now 250 trained champions from 35 different agencies. The champions include:

• police officers
• social workers
• housing staff
• midwives
• health visitors

Information

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic H1N1 (2009) Influenza (27th January 2010)
This letter, from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, provides an update on the next developments in the response to the swine flu pandemic.
Letter

A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Current situation and next steps (28th January 2010)
With levels of influenza caused by the H1N1 (2009) pandemic virus in the community currently low, this letter, from the Chief Medical Officer, provides an update on the next developments in the response to the pandemic
Letter

A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Current situation and next steps (27th January 2010)
Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, has today written out to Chief Executives of Primary Care Trusts in England to update them on the next steps in the response to the (H1N1) Swine Influenza pandemic
Documents

A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Current situation and next steps (27th January 2010)
This letter, from the Director General Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, details the next steps in the response to the (H1N1) Swine Influenza pandemic.
Letter

Pandemic flu training module for Mental Health Trusts, Tertiary and Associated Specialist Trusts (22nd January 2010)
This guidance is based on the recently updated guidance for Mental Health services on planning and responding to an outbreak of pandemic flu.
Guidance

PUBLIC HEALTH

Health Profile 2009 - North West (26th January 2010)
This profile gives a snapshot of health in the North West. It is designed to help local government and primary care trusts tackle health inequalities and improve people’s health.
Document

Modelled estimates and projections of CVD (25th January 2010)
Estimates and projections of the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for all Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts in England. A technical document accompanies these.
Documents

EVENT - A new year, a new start for positive mental health & wellbeing (27th January 2010)
The programme and presentations from this event that was held at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes are now available.
Presentations

ELDERLY/OLDER PEOPLE

National Evaluation of Partnerships for Older People Projects: final report (18th January 2010)
The Partnership for Older People Projects (POPP) were funded by the Department of Health to develop services for older people, aimed at promoting their health, well-being and independence and preventing or delaying their need for higher intensity or institutional care. The evaluation found that a wide range of projects resulted in improved quality of life for participants and considerable savings, as well as better local working relationships.
Report

Improving care and saving money: learning the lessons on prevention and early intervention for older people (18th January 2010)
This document provides the key learning from the national Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) programme.
Guidance

Personal budgets for older people - making it happen (13th January 2010)
This guide focuses on how councils can make personal budgets work well for older people and their families. It looks at how to ensure personal budgets are accessible, simple to use, flexible and help to achieve the things that matter most to the people using them.
Guide

A Guide to co-production with older people (December 2009)
A small co-production design team involving older people and strategic leads from three local authorities worked with NDTi and Helen Sanderson Associates to produce a further related publication on understanding co-production and how to make it happen with older people.The guide describes how local authorities, older people and older people's organisations can work together to design and deliver opportunities, support and services that improve wellbeing and quality of life.
Guide

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

Use of Resources Good Practice and Case Studies (17th December 2009)
To help auditors and audited bodies identify good practice, the Audit Commission have published some case studies from the 2008/09 auditors' use of resources work.
Case Studies

Leading Together Better (29th December 2009)
During the summer of 2009, the IDeA’s Healthy Communities programme sponsored a research project by Shared Intelligence. This explored the nature of partnership working between directors of public health, adults’ services and children’s services. The project arose after the first joint conference between the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS) and Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS). The conference report reveals well-established partnership relationships between all three directors.

The IDeA has distributed the report to local authorities and primary care trusts (PCTs). It hopes that this will stimulate local discussion on the nature of partnership working for health and wellbeing and how it can be improved.
Document

SOCIAL CARE

Transfer of commissioning and funding of social care for adults with learning disabilities from the NHS to local Government: final returns for 2009/10 by 15 January 2010 (17th December 2009)
From April 2009, funding and commissioning of social care for adults with learning disabilities transferred from the NHS to local authorities. The Department of Health have produced two letters, one for commissioners in primary care trusts and local authorities and one for strategic health authorities and deputy regional directors of social care, which gives further guidance.
Letters

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

LAC (DH) (2009)8 Autism strategy: improving services for people with autistic spectrum conditions (7th December 2009)
This circular highlights arrangements for the design and delivery of a new national strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions.
Publication

Valuing health: business case literature review (8th December 2009)
The Healthy Communities programme has produced a literature review which summarises the available evidence and research on the financial and non-financial impact of health improvement activity. This review highlights the need for a greater focus on the financial impact of health improvement activity on local government services, but does indicate that there are a number of areas where local authorities could expect to make efficiency savings. These include older people’s health and independence, workforce health and climate change and sustainability.
Report

Assessments relating to people with learning difficulties: Guidance to Local Authorities (November 2009)
The transition from school to a new learning establishment can be a difficult time for any young person. Those with learning difficulties are at particular risk of not making a successful transition. As a result, young people with learning difficulties are less likely to participate in education or training post-16 as those without, and are twice as likely to be NEET (not in education, training or employment).

The guidance is designed to help local authorities make consistent, effective and robust decisions but does not tell them what to do in each individual case. The guidance is current to March 2010 when new guidance published in Spring 2010, reflecting changes brought about by the ASCL Act, comes into effect.
Guidance

Assessments relating to people with learning difficulties: Guidance to Local Authorities - Analysis of consultation responses (November 2009)
The Education and Skills Act 2008 section 80 states that “in exercising its functions under this section, an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State”.

The Education and Skills Act 2008 inserted Sections 139A to 139C into the Learning and Skills Act 2000 which placed a statutory responsibility on local authorities in relation to assessments relating to learning difficulties. The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on the draft statutory guidance.

The consultation ran from 23 April to 16 July 2009. A total of 70 responses were received. A summary of responses to each question is provided and a list of the respondents is included in the Annex.
Responses

Safeguarding children and young people: a new scrutiny guide (4th December 2009)
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) have published a new guide to support overview and scrutiny committees in fulfilling their critical role in relation to safeguarding children.

The guide is designed to assist both councillors and officers in shaping and developing local safe services. The document includes:

• suggestions for approaches to scrutiny
• key references and advice for further reading
• a series of questions that committee members may want to consider when testing whether local arrangements are robust.

Guide

FINANCE

Means to an end. Joint financing across health and social care (29th October 2009)
This report reviews the joint financing and integrated care arrangements between NHS bodies and councils with adult social care responsibilities. It builds on our previous publication, Clarifying joint financing arrangements, that explained the practical implications and legislative framework for joint financing.

It considers how these arrangements are used, focusing on learning disability, mental health and older people - areas where service users most often need health and social care.

The report's recommendations and examples of notable practice aim to help national and local bodies better understand the options available, how to use them and to achieve better outcomes for service users.
Report

HOUSING

An accommodation self assessment toolkit for the Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement (2nd November 2009)
This self assessment toolkit is designed to assist local housing authorities to deliver improved accommodation outcomes for the four client groups in PSA 16, in partnership with probation, children's services, adult social care, primary care trusts and other local partners including voluntary sector and registered social landlords.

It forms part of an authority's role in mainstream homelessness prevention, involving early intervention, support, advice and information. Although covered in much less detail, the toolkit also gives an opportunity to assess the associated commitment to deliver improved employment outcomes for the four groups.

The findings and recommendations in this report are those of the consultant authors and do not necessarily represent the views or proposed policies of Communities and Local Government.
Toolkit

SOCIAL CARE

Response to the report and recommendations of the review of the conduct function of the General Social Care Council (4th November 2009)
This document sets out the Government's response to the report and recommendations of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence's (CHRE) review of the General Social Care Council's (GSCC) conduct function. The review was commissioned following the discovery of a backlog of conduct cases at the GSCC.
Document

10 questions to ask if you are scrutinising the transformation of adult social care (3rd November 2009)
This publication was commissioned from the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) by the Improvement Development Agency (IDeA). The guide identifies key elements in the transformation programme that will allow scrutiny committees to assess the extent to which their local authority is planning, commissioning and delivering better social care.
Publication

COMMUNITIES

Communities for Health: unlocking the energy within communities to improve health (21st October 2009)
The Communities for Health Programme exemplifies the increasing role local government plays in supporting health improvement and reducing health inequalities. This second report includes community activities in over 80 local authorities aimed at encouraging behaviour change and strengthening local partnership to tackle a wide range of key health priorities.
Document

Building Cohesive Communities: What frontline staff and community activists need to know (14th October 2009)
This is a short practical guide for busy activists and frontline staff working on community cohesion. The guide is based on current research and practical experience of the authors. Topics included are:

• Promoting interaction between people and groups
• Developing effective community leadership
• Tackling local attitudes, perception and myths
• Developing the role of young people

Guide