Our approach to commissioning

How we develop and improve services with and for the people of Croydon.

Our vision

We aim to ensure that health and social care services in Croydon are designed with and for the people of Croydon. 

We will develop, review and aim to continually improve services so that they are based on the strengths of local communities and help people to live happy, healthy and independent lives.

About commissioning

Commissioning is the process by which health and care services are planned, purchased and monitored. 

Our commissioning practice is based on 3 principles:

  1. Strengths-based commissioning: how we work with people to understand their strengths and assets within a community.
  2. Community engagement: how we engage with residents, develop relationships and have respectful dialogue.
  3. Partnership working: working with others to achieve a common goal to deliver more effective outcomes.

The process is an ongoing cycle, known as the commissioning cycle, which goes through 4 key steps:  Analyse, Plan, Do and Review. Each phase feeds into the next step so that the cycle keeps going. 

Analyse 

Measuring performance and outcomes is achieved through effective contract management and service review. 

Evaluation of quantitative and qualitative performance information, including feedback from people who use the service, enables us to understand the extent to which the service has met its objectives so we can improve its design and operation to best meet future needs. 

Plan 

Collaborating effectively with our partners in primary care, social care, education and the Voluntary Community Sector (VCS). By putting the community at the heart of commissioning, we aim to maximise prevention, early intervention, and independence, while being able to provide high quality statutory services when needed.

Do 

Undertake fair, transparent, and appropriate processes in order to secure high quality services. We work with services to demonstrate outcomes and measure impact.

Review

We hold providers to account for the provision of timely and accurate data, and support them in doing this, to enable us to review services effectively and ensure efficient service delivery. 

We work collaboratively with providers to ensure that services can adapt and be flexible to meet changing needs.