The model
This report recommends a best practice model for commissioning money advice services.
The objective of the model is to enable local partners to develop advice strategies that can be easily and efficiently adapted to achieve a maximisation of income for clients, ensuring value for money invested in advice, with the purpose of delivering improvements to health.
The research
With funds for advice services at risk of being cut, it was important to state the case for action, to ensure commissioners within health and local authorities were aware of the cost and health benefits to investing in advice services.
- The primary research involved surveying health and local authority commissioners to gain an understanding of how and why advice is currently commissioned. Analysis of the survey answers acknowledged advice is commissioned because they contribute to health and wellbeing indicators, and help tackle and reduce health inequalities.
- A core part of the secondary research involved compiling a literature review of journals and reports evidencing where advice services had positively impacted health.
The commissioning process
The model explains each stage of the commissioning process, and aligns each step with examples of best practice.
- Central to the model is the development of an Advice Strategy and a Commissioning Document which sets out clearly defined priorities, which are consulted and agreed by commissioning, funding, advice and community stakeholders.
- Another component is the involvement of a formal needs analysis. This gives an independent indication of need in particular locations. It encourages active engagement with frontline service providers. This allows new areas of demand for services to be recognised as they emerge and gaps in provision identified and filled. Priorities can be set and outcomes determined.
- Combined, the model recommends a clear indication of level of service provided to ensure that public money is used appropriately and that services meet user needs.
A full copy of the research and accompanying appendices are available to download on this page, along with the presentation delivered at its launch.