Independent Care Sector Support Programme

To procure an enhanced support package of consultancy services for 2016/17 to support the implementation of innovation and improvement projects with independent care sector (ICS) providers and partners. The support delivered will allow the identification of issues and implementation of solutions in order to improve the integration of health, care homes, homecare and housing sectors locally that will result in improved outcomes for patients receiving care.

These services have been procured through the NHS England Lead Provider Framework Agreement - Lot 1: End to End Commissioning Support, via a Further Competition.

The aim of this work is to obtain enhanced support to the ICS for 2016/17 to ensure local areas have robust collaborative working partnerships in place in order to support the implementation of innovation and improvement projects with ICS providers, commissioners and partners.

The support delivered will achieve this by improving and increasing the number of local care sector forums/networks/groups/associations that exist across England; these involve all local ICS providers as a minimum. Ideally these should also include local authorities, CCGs, NHS providers and voluntary sector providers.

These care sector forums are improvement focussed, identifying issues and implementing solutions in order to improve the integration of the provision of health, care homes, homecare and housing locally that will result in improved outcomes for people using health, care and support services. This project is not seeking to increase or improve groups that only discuss fees or contractual requirements or contract performance monitoring.

The objectives are to: - support local areas to embed partnership working and integration delivery between ICS providers and NHS providers, voluntary sector and commissioners (Local Authorities and CCGs), in both planning and operational activity; - support local areas to implement products of the national Independent Care Sector Programme; and - provide expertise on improvement work to local areas with high rates of avoidable admissions and Delayed Transfers of Care (DToC) so that solutions to reduce them can be found through effective health and social care commissioners and providers collaboration.