Commissioning Network Update

In the first week of June the Commissioning Network held a virtual meeting.

The main outcomes of the meeting were

• Price uplifts - task and finish group formed to align processes for considering fee uplift requests from SEND and LAC spot-purchase providers on a regional basis – group includes LAC and SEND commissioners and finance representatives – plans to drive consistency, improve market engagement, better promote available framework contracts to providers - first meeting week commencing 8th June

• Placements portal – Birmingham Children’s Trust to act as lead organisation in re-commissioning the regional placements portal, fully supported by the regional commissioning hub and LGA productivity expert (Peopletoo)– options appraisal completed – new contract required by April 2021 – plan is to deliver an improved product with better use of data and improved contract management functionality with overall improved market engagement

• Supported accommodation – Staffordshire to act as lead authority in re-commissioning regional framework contract – task and finish activity arranged, fully supported by regional commissioning hub – new contract required April 2021