Learning from practice

Hertfordshire LSP has in place a Joint Commissioning Partnership board, the main partners of which are Hertfordshire County Council and the eight PCTs in the County. The Joint Commissioning Partnership Board is responsible for commissioning health and social care, and is supported by a Joint Commissioning Team. The Joint Commissioning Team consists of co-located staff from both the NHS and County Council, and is responsible for holding, commissioning, and accounting for the funds.

Main commissioning budgets are pooled for each of the care groups, and are provided by Hertfordshire Council and the eight PCTs. All pooling of resources operates through use of Health Act flexibilities.

Decisions on service priorities and investment are taken by the Joint Commissioning Partnership Board, which has delegated authority from the County Council and the eight PCTs.

The pooling of resources across Hertfordshire LSP has been very successful, and has given rise to a number of positive outcomes including:
• improved integration into other partnership structures
• rationalising of contracts
• integrated strategy development
• pooling of specialist expertise
• better overview of the whole health and social care dimension

Cited in Creating Healthier Communities: a resource pack for local partnershipsNeighbourhood Renewal Unit / ODPM
www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/