Providing education in the new commissioning environment

The separation of the provision and the commissioning of education offer an exciting, yet potentially challenging opportunity for providers to influence the direction of education.

Just as the provision of services was separated from its commissioning, so too is education provision changing. PA’s health team draw on the experiences of the private sector and those of the service providers in other parts of the NHS to explain how providers can operate in the future. 

The right to train is disappearing from the NHS, with the future direction being that of providers needing to respond to commissioners’ requests and being able to evidence the capability to train. Education providers of the future will need to lead the way in improving the quality of education and developing innovative training with some deciding to focus only on shaping the provision and not the delivery. 

Exciting though this opportunity is, many aren’t ready for this step change in responsibility and risk being left behind by more commercially savvy or larger providers. Changes to the way the service is commissioned have resulted in similar experiences in the past. Providers need to learn from these experiences and those of the private sector when moving to a more commercial model and apply them to the NHS educational setting.

Develop a strong team with technical capabilities  in commercial competencies

The new world is going to bring with it a need for new skills and knowledge. You will need a team which is able to write compelling tenders and understand the procurement regulations in order to work effectively within them. You should know your customers and their needs in detail. Similarly, you must foster lasting relationships with your partners in education provision and highlight these partnerships to commissioners as a benefit in your offering.  

Build security into commercial arrangements

Stability is in everyone’s interest. Why would a provider want to invest in developing new courses if their commissioner can terminate the contract at no notice? Likewise why would a commissioner want a contract with an organisation that gives no room for manoeuvre if workforce needs change? Be flexible in your approach to make your contracts attractive (for example, having a maximum number of total students but levels of flexibility between the courses offered) but do it in such a way as to manage the risk to yourselves and your commissioners.

Understand what makes you special

The education market has a place for specialists, generalists, large and small providers. For example, ‘spot’ providers, designed around high flexibility and  small volumes could offer to fill last minute gaps and minority fields or provide very specialist high quality training. Alternatively, core ‘bulk’ providers who provide high-volume courses can market themselves around a low-cost solution. Decide what makes you unique, match this to commissioner needs and use this to sell your services.  

Promote your successes externally to establish your brand in the market

The use of case studies, personal endorsements, student feedback in the promotion of your approach will show how you can make a real difference to trainees and to future patient outcomes. The more you use your achievements to promote your organisation within the local health economy, the more you can foster lasting relationships with your commissioners. 

It is easy to feel wary of a changing landscape, however the whole system in which you operate is changing and commissioners will expect (and require) organisations to operate in a more commercial way.

This is a radical change and you need an equally radical  shift in your thinking to match. You need a change in mindset, to combine your existing training excellence with commercial and technical capabilities. 

Healthcare education providers need to be ready for the step-change in responsibility resulting from the separation of provision from commissioning to avoid being left behind in the market.

To learn how PA can help you remodel education provision and for more information about PA’s healthcare workforce expertise, please contact us now.