The Strategic Commissioning Development Programme is a national development offer for integrated care boards (ICBs) and their partners.

It is designed to help ICBs strengthen their role as strategic commissioners in line with the new operating model, including the Model ICB Blueprint and the Strategic Commissioning Framework.

ICBs are working in a significantly changed environment, facing rising demand, financial pressure and a stronger shift towards prevention, earlier intervention and neighbourhood health.

The programme provides practical support to help ICBs build capability, confidence and a more consistent approach to strategic commissioning. It is a development offer, not performance management or a new assurance process.

In line with the new operating model, ICBs are being asked to strengthen their role as strategic commissioners: understanding population need, setting direction and working with partners to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and secure greater value from finite resources.

This matters because systems are facing rising demand, persistent health inequalities and growing financial pressure. ICBs need to lead a clearer shift towards prevention, earlier intervention and neighbourhood health, while making more strategic choices about how resources are used.

Strategic commissioning will enable this shift. By helping ICBs and partners look ahead, agree priorities, shape services and align planning, contracting and investment decisions around outcomes.

The Strategic Commissioning Development Programme provides practical support to help ICBs do this well.

The foundation offer is the first step in the wider programme. It helps turn the Strategic Commissioning Framework from “what” into “how”.

The offer is aimed mainly at ICBs and will also be useful to local authority, NHS England and VCSE commissioning partners. It will help systems make better decisions, use resources more effectively and lead change with greater confidence.

What is in the foundation offer

• self-assessment tool to identify strengths, gaps and next steps
• foundational e-learning on strategic commissioning
• Commissioning Academy for learning, resources and updates
• practical resources, including case studies, and podcasts

Find the foundation offer on NHS Futures: The Commissioning Academy – Futures

If you do not have a Futures account, please contact england.strategiccommissioningdev@nhs.net who will invite you directly.

What is coming next

• more e-learning
• webinars and practical learning sessions
• toolkits and playbooks on key commissioning themes
• more case studies, blogs and guides
• peer learning networks on neighbourhood health delivery models

For further information please contact: england.strategiccommissioningdev@nhs.net

Read our blog – why strategic commissioning matters now: lessons from the past, what is different this time, and what comes next