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.