Joint Commissioning Strategy

There are many different interpretations of the term ‘commissioning’ with different partner agencies using the word to mean different things. In Gateshead we have agreed to define commissioning as:

The process of specifying, securing and monitoring services to meet people’s needs. The applies to all services whether they are provided by the local authority, other public agencies or the private and voluntary sectors

- Adapted from the SSI/Audit Commission, Making Ends Meet, Oct 2003

Our Joint Commissioning Strategy sets out the strategic intention for the commissioning of services for children and young people in Gateshead for the period 2006-09. The strategy provides the framework to assist partners who plan and commission children’s services independently, for example, where there is a statutory duty to this as well as help partners identify opportunities to work together to commissioning the provision and delivery of services locally.

Our Commissioning Support Team supports the Improve Wellbeing Board in its implementation of the Joint Commissioning Strategy ensuring a standardised approach to commissioning.