Commissioning involves committing limited resources to health and community care interventions to improve the health system and deliver better consumer outcomes. Commissioning relies on robust relationships and established trust at the local level.

Commissioning is a needs-led and outcome-evaluated process. Stakeholders work to identify needs and co-design solutions. The procurement of services is only one possible outcome to the commissioning process. Commissioning underpins all areas of the PHN's work, including analysis and planning, support for GPs and other healthcare providers and purchasing health and community care interventions.

Commissioning is an on-going cyclical process. Needs are assessed through community consultation and solutions are designed in partnership with stakeholders. Transparent processes are used to promote the implementation of these solutions, including identification of providers. These solutions are then evaluated used to inform further assessment and planning.

• identify desired outcomes
• design solutions
• procurement strategy selection
• procurement or direct intervention
• capacity building
• sector development
• manage provider relationship
• health needs assessment
• community and stakeholder led consultation
• service mapping and market failure identification
• evaluate outcomes
• consumer and community feedback
• feed back into next stage of cycle

1. Understand the needs of the community by analysing data, engaging and consulting with consumers, clinicians, carers and providers, peak bodies, community organisations and funders.
2. Engage with potential service providers well in advance of commissioning new services.
3. Put outcomes for users at the heart of the strategic planning process.
4. Adopt a whole of system approach to meeting health needs and delivering improved health outcomes.
5. Understand the fullest practical range of providers including the contribution they could make to delivering outcomes and addressing market failure and gaps, and encourage diversity in the market.
6. Co-design solutions; engage with stakeholders, including consumer representatives, peak bodies community organisations, potential providers and other funders, to develop evidence-based and outcome-focused solutions.
7. Consider investing in the capacity of providers and consumers, particularly in relation to hard to-reach groups.
8. Ensure procurement and contracting processes are transparent and fair, facilitating the involvement of the broadest range of suppliers, including alternative arrangements such as consortia building where appropriate.
9. Manage through relationships; work in partnership, building connections at multiple levels of partner organisations and facilitate links between stakeholders.
10. Develop environments high in trust through collaborative governance, shared decision-making and collective performance management.
11. Ensure efficiency, value for money, and service enhancement.
12. Monitor and evaluate through regular performance reports; consumer, clinician, community and provider feedback and independent evaluation.

The extent of stakeholder involvement depends on a number of factors, including government guidelines and the amount of time and resources available.

We:

• work with you openly and honestly in a spirit of partnership
• engage with you as early as possible about the commissioning of new services
• develop an understanding of providers and the contributions they can make to delivering the desired outcomes
• share population health and performance data with you
• consider investing in capacity building and sector development
• develop close relationships with you, to the greatest extent possible
• engage with you or your peak body, to design outcome-focused solutions
• ensure procurement and contracting processes are transparent and fair
• seek your feedback and input when evaluating services.

The PHN will:

• engage with you or your representatives to understand your needs and the needs of your community
• put better health outcomes for you and your community at the centre of its planning
• share population health and performance data with you
• consider investing in capacity of consumers
• engage with you or your representatives, to design outcome-focused solutions
• seek your feedback and input when evaluating services.

• allocate resources to areas and populations of highest need
• direct funds to health and community care interventions
• ensure value for money
• provide you with open and transparent reports
• establish and maintain productive relationships with service providers, consumers, carers, community organisations and other stakeholders
• implement a contestable approach to procurement of interventions
• increase the capacity of the health and community care system, including providers and consumers
• adopt a whole of system approach across multiple jurisdictions and levels of government