Strategy into action - Developing commissioning programmes

Once the Board has agreed the overall strategy it is important to ensure that this informs the commissioning strategy. The executive team should identify a series of key programmes to deliver the strategic goals. A programme is a related group of activities such as delivering the NSF for older people.This is then broken down into individual projects. Experience in a number of PCTs is that this process can often be very challenging. The following sections draw on established best practice to spell out the essential steps to establishing effective Whole System Commissioning programmes.

Key to this process is ensuring that the PCT as commissioner of services is consistent in its strategy and direction with its role as providerof services as illustrated in the diagram below.