Host commissioner guidance

NHS England and NHS Improvement published host commissioner guidance in January 2021. This describes a clear expectation that NHS commissioners, such as NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, maintain effective quality surveillance of all NHS and independent hospitals and specialist learning disability and autism placements within the scope of the host commissioning guidance within the geographical boundaries of Cheshire and Merseyside.

You can read this NHS England report to learn more about host commissioner guidance for people diagnosed with a learning disability and/or autism.

There are several hospitals and providers in the Cheshire and Merseyside areas. These are provided by both independent sector organisations and the NHS. They support people with a diagnosis of a mental health condition or a diagnosis of a learning disability and/or autism. These hospitals can also care for people placed by different NHS commissioners from outside of the Cheshire and Merseyside area.

At the present time host commissioning arrangements are in place for people with a learning disability, autism, or both.

The role of NHS commissioners placing into the Cheshire and Merseyside areas

  • Talk to us prior to admitting a person into a Cheshire and Merseyside inpatient service.
  • Retain oversight for the clinical care of people you place in our area and ensure your contingency plans are robust.
  • Talk to us about any quality or governance concerns you identify within the Cheshire and Merseyside independent and NHS hospitals and specialist placements.
  • Collaborate with us when we set up collaborative assurance meetings across NHS commissioners. The purpose of these is to share information across stakeholders and work together to support and to maintain quality, mitigate risk and resolve concerns.

Please talk to us when you are considering placing a person with a diagnosis of a learning disability and/or autism into Cheshire and Merseyside.

If you intend to commission an inpatient provision into our geographical area, we invite you to contact us in advance and we will be able to advise you of any current safety or quality concerns. When contacting us please do not include person identifiable information in your emails. As host commissioner we will never ask for identifiable information about people you place in our area.

We have created guidance and a template to complete which ensures services in Cheshire and Merseyside are aware of the needs of individuals moving in the area.

Tell us about a concern

It is important that NHS commissioners placing into Cheshire and Merseyside talk to us about any quality or governance concerns they may identify. This will help us triangulate information and allow us to address your identified concerns as host commissioner.

Contact us

For all contact regarding host assurance arrangements including prospective placements or concerns around existing placements, please email us at: sthelens.hostcommissioner@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk.