Examples of what this might involve

1. 

• Consideration of the impact of commissioning decisions on choice and control.
• Exploration of different commissioning approaches such as Alliance Contracting and Collaborative Commissioning, that move away from a competition driven system.
• Reviewing IRISS recommendations for ethical commissioning in drug and alcohol services.

2. 

• Commissioning informed by a good understanding of local data, taking into account factors such as demand, capacity, activity and queue, along with alcohol and drug partnership commissioned needs assessments and MAT standards reporting data.
• A robust methodology for understanding local needs for specific interventions/services such as trauma counselling, residential rehabilitation, recovery cafes.

3. 

• Review of current commissioning environment and assessment of suitability to deliver required system changes for the implementation of a local protocol.
• Identification of areas for capacity building around commissioning, including local skills, available data and relationships between commissioning and delivery bodies.

4. 

Engagement being built into commissioning practices to ensure continuous learning from those that deliver and receive services.