Joint Planning and Commissioning: The Framework in Action - A Brighton and Hove Case Study

Service reviews of a number of areas have recently taken place at Brighton and Hove children's trust, including a review of services for children with disabilities and a review of early years and provision for 0-5-year-olds. These reviews are key to the new approach to partnership working that is driven by outcomes for children and embeds participation from the very beginning.

This case study looks at how geographical needs analysis, current patterns of service provision and identification of 'target' groups of children and young people are handled to create an informed and relevant review process. In the reviews that have taken place so far, this has included an emphasis on early intervention and prevention and in some cases reshaping current job roles to focus more on vulnerable families.

The case study goes beyond the reviews to look at the children's trust's approach to look at how priorities are determined and how these have fed into the local planning process. It examines methods of procurement, the involvement of the voluntary and community sector in this process, and the principles behind commissioning and managing the supplier market.

See also our section on joint planning and commissioning.