The work of the National Market Development Forum

Future work of the NMDF in 2012-13

• Market implications of Winterbourne View review: barriers to good commissioning for low numbers
• Miranda Wixon (Ceretas) will lead on the piloting of the newly created market facilitation scenarios and engage IPC accordingly. Miranda will also scope out a future work stream involving local care associations in facilitating the strategic development of local markets and achieving value for money
• Sharon Allen (Skills for Care) will lead on our connection with workforce dynamics including support for direct employers, the impact on workforce of the changing demand for more personalised support and areas of skills or supply deficit.
• Des Kelly (National Care Forum) will continue to lead on quality and will convene a seminar which will attempt to connect with the various quality schemes currently being designed and will link with the Department of Health White Paper once it is published.

The work of the NMDF in 2011-12

The NMDF includes senior representatives of local authorities, leaders of provider associations, members of the TLAP National Co-production Advisory Group and support organisations including Skills for Care, SITRA and SCIE. Activity has been divided into three sub groups:

Market Facilitation and Procurement: chaired by Miranda Wixon, Ceretas and supported by Institute of Public Care

Commissioning the Future : workshop materials to start a new conversation was developed to help commissioners, providers and people who use services understand each other's concerns, start new conversations and change the way they interact with each other when it comes to funding, providing and using local services.

Covering brokerage, end of life care, maximising the use of limited funds, driving innovation and integration and increasing self directed funding they are intended to:

• Improve understanding of each other's roles and concerns
• Change the nature of the conversations stakeholders are having locally
• Help to shift thinking about relationships within the market
• Provide learning that can be applied to interactions on real issues

Quality Assurance and Improvement: chaired by Des Kelly, National Care Forum and supported by SCIE

This group has extensively trawled quality assurance systems used by councils in relation to commissioned care services . They have also reviewed a range of the many different quality assurance initiatives utilised by providers. This enables a better understanding of the variety of schemes in use, how they compare and their relationship to quality improvement.

The group has also discussed how public information can drive up quality, considering in particular the CQC Quality and Risk Profiles and the creation of a Consumer Information Portal - now launched as "Find Me Good Care (opens new window)" by SCIE. A statement of principles is shortly to be finalised which will act as a framework within which quality initiatives can be shaped and assessed. To maximise people's choice and control the Making it Real markers of progress is at the centre of this work. The task group has established links with the White Paper engagement exercise quality group along with other key stakeholders such as the transparency work being led by the Cabinet Office.

Personalisation of the Market: chaired by Sharon Allen, Skills for Care and supported by Sam Bennett from the Groundswell Partnership

This area of work has reviewed examples of existing good practice to all models of provision including registered homes and home care services. As a result a summary report will be compiled of the key messages illustrating how a range of different providers are delivering against the Making it Real markers and illustrating "what good looks like" in fully personalised support. The Blueprint for Personalised Care and Support will be augmented by a further 12 detailed case studies. Each different yet sharing a common theme of good, best value outcomes achieved through good commissioning, co-production and provider relationships.

This group has also produced Stronger Partnerships for Better Outcomes: a protocol for market relations which ties together the activity of all work streams in this year's NMDF.

This is a "code of practice," which describes what we would like to see adopted by all key parties involved in the market, enabling more productive and less antagonistic relationships to inform and develop what is needed locally. This is a document that is intended to be picked up and adapted for local or regional use, where stakeholders can adopt it as a basis for new arrangements or a fresh start for existing relations. The protocol is already being used in this way by forward thinking commissioners and providers and people with support needs, their carers and families in the North West region who have also played an important role in developing the document.