The role of needs analysis in developing a commissioning strategy

This paper considers the role of needs analysis in developing a commissioning strategy, and proposes a methodology for undertaking it. Written by IPC, this paper was originally published as part of the Commissioning eBook.

The methodology, developed by IPC, outlines how agencies could use four categories of data - demographic data, prevalence and incidence data, risk factor data and service user data - in order to understand the needs of their populations, and specifically, the needs of vulnerable adults. The paper concludes that notwithstanding the limitations of needs analysis, it is nevertheless an important part of the commissioning of community care services.