Correspondence

Independent provider bulletin: January 2015

Published 30 January 2015

Applies to England

1. For action

1.1 Monitor statement on the 2015/16 National Tariff

Please read our statement updating you on our proposals for the 2015/16 National Tariff.

1.2 Integrated care licence condition: tell us your views on our draft guidance by 13 February 2015

We have published this draft guidance for licensed providers of NHS-funded services, and NHS trusts. It is designed to help you understand more about how the integrated care licence condition including:

• how to minimise the risk of breaching the condition
• when we may take action under the condition
• how we will enforce the condition

We would like to hear from service users and patients, providers, commissioners and any other interested parties on this draft version of the guidance. Your responses will be used to inform our final guidance document.

Please email or write to us by 5pm on 13 February 2015.

1.3 Future Focused Finance - request for pilot volunteers

We are supporting the Future-Focused Finance initiative, alongside other national bodies in NHS finance, to recruit organisations or health economies, including independent providers, to pilot a decision-making framework that we would like to roll out across NHS finance and more widely. The types of decision might include:

• choosing strategic improvement programmes
• resource allocation across care settings
• how to invest in integrated care
• service re-designs
• how to determine innovation funding
• innovation roll out

The aim is to provide a case-study based resource that the sector can draw from in making better value-based decisions across a range of contexts.

If you would like to be involved with this work by either sharing the learning from a successful/significant decision, or potentially to access professional support with a forthcoming decision, please contact Mark Redhead at mark.redhead@monitor.gov.uk by 4 February 2015 for details.

2. For information

2.1 Improving community services report

We have published a new report on improving community services. It is mainly for commissioners and looks at what clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are doing in relation to community services as the contracts first entered into as a result of Transforming Community Services expire.

See our infographic for a clear breakdown of the report’s findings.

2.2 Monitor is recruiting clinicians

We are currently looking for 4 part-time associate medical directors, on either a fixed term or secondment basis. Clinical engagement is crucial to Monitor and our role in making the health sector work better for patients.

Post-holders will play a central role in bringing more clinical expertise into Monitor, supporting clinical engagement activity and helping shape relationships with clinicians and other key partners across the healthcare sector. The successful candidates will require deep subject matter expertise and excellent credentials in their field.

To find out more and apply for these posts, please follow these links:

• Associate Medical Director (Medicine)
• Associate Medical Director (Mental Health)
• Associate Medical Director (Surgery)
• Associate Medical Director (Urgent and Emergency Care)

3. Events

3.1 Webinar: Enabling integrated care, 10 February 2015, online

Directed at: Staff from NHS foundations trusts, NHS trusts and other licensed providers of NHS services.

Why join? To learn more about the integrated care licence condition.

It will specifically focus on the proposed principles for providers to deliver care in an integrated way and the proposed behaviours or actions that might go against the interests of patients and service users. You will have the opportunity to submit questions and comments during the webinar.

Sign up here.

3.2 Local price determination workshops for innovative payment approaches; various locations, 25 February 2015 – 21 May 2015

For: the following roles within foundation trusts, NHS trusts and independent providers:

• heads of contracts, income and costing
• contracting, income and costing accountants
• clinicians and nurses involved in setting payment approaches
• others involved in local price determination and contracting with CCGs

Why attend? To shape and form a payment system that works for patients by providing input into the local price determination rules and principles.

The interactive workshops will help explain:

• what the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (the 2012 Act) says about local price determination and what the statutory responsibilities are
• the consequences of non-compliance with the National Tariff or the 2012 Act for the sector as a whole
• how to comply with all the rules and principles around local price determination
• why we collect local price information and how it affects price determination in the Tariff

Read more and registerhere.

4. External updates

4.1 Sustainable Development Strategy

The Sustainable Development Strategy for the Health, Public Health and Social Care System 2014-2020 describes the vision for a sustainable health and care system by reducing carbon emissions, protecting natural resources, preparing communities for extreme weather events and promoting healthy lifestyles and environments.

The strategy sets out how the health and social care system, including independent providers, can support this initiative. Over the summer, a consultation was held on 3 detailed supporting modules of the strategy, covering metrics for measuring sustainable development, innovation and social value. Following this consultation these new supporting modules will be launched on 29 January 2015 at an event in Leeds and further information about the new modules can be found here.

5. Getting in touch

5.1 Questions or feedback

If you have any questions about the information in this bulletin, please email licensing@monitor.gov.uk.

5.2 News alerts

You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service, which is a convenient way for you to receive relevant information direct to your inbox.

5.3 Publications

All of our publications for independent providers are available to download from our website.

5.4 Our latest job opportunities

For more information or to apply, please visit our recruitment website joinmonitor.com.