RIEPS harness millions in local government savings

Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) have helped local authorities to deliver £321 million of efficiencies over the past two years, and will deliver up to £950 million savings by March 2011.

RIEPs were set up in April 2008 to assist councils and their partners in delivering better services by supporting their efforts to become more efficient, innovative and engaged with communities.

The Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) is the adult social care wing of Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM), the RIEP for the West Midlands region.

A summary of the collective achievements of the nine RIEPs in England can be found in RIEPs: A summary of key achievements – two years on.

Their priorities in 2010/11 include:

• a stronger focus on joint working between the RIEPs


• increasing support for collaborative and innovative procurement


• developing a more joined up approach to improvement and efficiency in local areas.

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Care funding calculator continues to make savings

Adult care services in the region are on target to deliver efficiency gains of over £2.8 million through use of the Care Funding Calculator.

The free Excel based calculator creates greater transparency in pricing and provides more information for negotiating the price of residential and supported living.

Data includes price details of staffing, hotel places, overheads and other costs. The calculator gives care purchasers an indicative price for each element of their client’s care plan. The estimated cost is then used to negotiate a fair price with the supplier for the care package.

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eAuctions save millions

Savings secured via the West Midlands eAuction programme total £20 million with some local authorities making a return on their investment of 70:1.

The eAuctions take place on line. Potential suppliers compete in real time by providing prices for goods and services under procurement, including home to school transport, ICT, office furniture and cleaning products.

This form of buying and pricing is a major strand of Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) smarter procurement programme.

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Savings through smart procurement

The West Midlands Procurement Hub is currently delivering savings of £3 million per year to local authorities in the region.

Set up by Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM), the hub is an information sharing tool for procurement officers in the region’s 33 councils.

It gives them access to:

• a contracts database consisting of ‘live’ contractual arrangements that can be used immediately


• Collaboration Corner – an online matching service to find possible collaborative partners


• The Procurement Library holding a selection of standard documents and guidance


• an events and training calendar offering online registration to events


• The Society of Procurement Officers (SOPO) forum, to which procurement questions can be posted and answered


• Suppliers Corner where current tendering opportunities in the region’s councils are displayed.

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Putting people first in commissioning

An overview of requirements for developing a robust local commissioning strategy is available on the new Putting People First website.

Information includes:

• shaping and developing the markets
• co producing commissioning
• reviews focussed on results
• development of service providers
• home care and residential care
  

Information previously held on the DH Care Networks website has been transferred to the Putting People First site.

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Web based tool for planning and commissioning care

Planning4care is a web based tool provided by the Audit Commission to help councils, primary care trusts and care providers make informed decisions about future commissioning plans.


It helps authorities build a picture of the care needs of local populations, identifies areas of high and unmet need, links needs to service requirements and costs, and explores the impact of different scenarios.


The tool saves time and resources needed for data analysis and forecasting.
It also provides:

• local estimates of social care need and service requirements to 2030


• a strategic needs assessment summary report


• information on the potential impact of different decisions and changing demographic trends.

It builds on national models for long term care projections for older people, and learning disability and mental health groups.

Planning4care (Older People) for local authorities and PCTs starts from £5,000 for a strategic needs assessment report, scenario mapping, access to the website and a half-day introductory briefing.

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Commissioning learning disability support

A booklet giving ideas and examples of how commissioners might respond to personalisation of services for people with learning disabilities is available free of charge from LG Improvement and Development.

‘Person centered commissioning now: a pathway approach to commissioning learning disability support’ helps commissioners examine what personalisation means for them, their organisations and the people they serve.

From April 2009 responsibility for commissioning and funding of social care for adults with learning disabilities was transferred from the NHS to local authorities.

The publication provides illustrations of what commissioners need to do to understand the individual’s needs, funding streams, and service design and self directed support.

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