Joint Commissioning

In June 2005, the Executive Board of Somerset County Council agreed proposals for the establishment of Somerset Children and Young People’s Partnership (SCYPP). These included a proposal that the work of the SCYPP should be supported by a Joint Commissioning Team, consisting of senior managers as well as those currently involved in commissioning services for children and young people in different agencies.

Joint Commissioning Team Mission Statement
“To secure integrated commissioning, leading to more integrated service delivery and better outcomes for children and young people.”
Para 2.20 Every Child Matters: Next Steps, DfES, 2004.

Role of the Joint Commissioning Team

The responsibilities of the Joint Commissioning Team will include the following:

Supporting the work of the SCYPP Board and ensuring its successful operation
Facilitating the work of the six commissioning groups-
- Children's Services 0-13 years
- Young People Services 13-19
- Youth Offending Team [YOT] Chief Executive’s Steering Group
- Service development group for children with disabilities
- Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services Forum
- Young People’s Substance Misuse Commissioning Group
Producing and monitoring the Children and Young People’s Plan (from 2007 onwards)
Analysing needs, services and performance (working with colleagues in performance information/management teams)
Drawing up service specifications, service level agreements and letting contracts (with support from colleagues in The Strategic Services Partnership Team in the Community Directorate)
Preparation for inspection and regulation activities, such as the Joint Area Review (JAR) and Annual Performance Assessment (APA)
The Joint Commissioning Team sits within the Partnerships Division of the Children and Young People's Directorate, headed up by John Kirby, Head of Service.
The Joint Commissioning Team comprises of:
- A group manager
- Commissioning Managers for substance misuse and emotional health and well being
- Teenage pregnancy co-ordinator and team
- Healthy Schools Co-ordinator and team
- Project Manager - information sharing