Lead the NHS locally

Be recognised as the local leaders of the NHS.

This competency focuses on the role of PCTs to steer the health agenda in their local community and actively stimulate discussion on health matters.

Principles and rules for co-operation and competition (Department of Health 2007)

This annexe to the NHS operating framework 2008/09 points out that increased scrutiny of system management will require more clarity about roles, functions, competencies, expected behaviours, and rules, and sets out guiding principles.

NHS Next stage review: Leading local change (Department of Health 2008)

This report focuses on the need for change to benefit patients, be clinically driven, locally led, involve service users, the public and other partners, and not take away existing services until new and better ones are available.

Shifting the balance of healthcare to local settings: The SeeSaw report (King's Fund 2008)

This study explores the impact of commissioning decisions on the health economy, and the need for commissioners to be sure of the benefits of shifting care provision, governance to deal with potential conflicts of interest and impartial clinical advice.

Making the strategic shift to prevention and early intervention (Department of Health 2008)

This offers a framework for defining prevention and early intervention, and a strategic commissioning process to achieve it, using policy drivers and financial levers, such as PBC, business planning and monitoring.

This report and the companion booklet Key messages for decision makers include details of prevention and early intervention initiatives.

The role of the primary care trust board in world class commissioning (Department of Health 2008)
This guidance sets out expectations for the whole board to take strategic responsibility for the commissioning agenda, shows how boards can add value to different phases of the commissioning cycle, and identifies the competencies and characteristics required.