The council wanted to build its capability as a commissioning organisation. Our task was to:
- Provide sustained support to the authority as it grew and developed its commissioning function
- Support the staff with training and development to meet sector challenges head on and adapt to the national and local agenda.
The partnership with the council began with a focus on the adult social care environment. In the initial phase we worked alongside senior managers in Solihull to understand the local context of care. We then:
- Supported the commissioning management team to review their vision, focus and priorities alongside their financial constraints
- Provided structured workshops and review, exploring options around building residential/nursing care for people with dementia; extra care homes for older people, and small homes and supported living for people with learning disabilities
- Created a bespoke four day training programme, drawing on local experience, primarily for adult social care staff and also children’s services and public health. The programme offered a postgraduate qualification, focussed around work-based projects.
The training was mutually beneficial to individuals, the organisation and the public, by providing the opportunity for continual professional development, assessment of organisational capability, and a focus on commissioning for outcomes for citizens. All participants achieved the qualification.