What's involved in becoming an Accredited Commissioner
Background
Government Skills have recently produced a draft of the National Occupational Standards for Commissioning. There are 10 modules which are described below and they indicate the commissioners MUST have key knowledge sets and understanding in the following areas.
A1 – Engage with service users;
B1 – Assess the needs and required outcomes of the service;
B2 – Review and Evaluate Current Service provision;
C1- Develop Commissioning policies and strategies;
C2- Develop Plans for Services;
C3- Work with Providers to develop the market;
D1- Specify and award contracts for services;
D2 – Manage service provider performance;
D3 – Work with service providers to maximise and enhance service provision;
D4 – Manage the conclusion of service provision.
This work has helped to crystallise the role of commissioners and is an important framework for future activity. We also thank Government Skills for their efforts in producing the NOS.
To register apply here for Accreditation Award
Assessment
The key area in the Government Skills document is that commissioners must have knowledge and understanding of all of the above areas. Commissioners are very busy people and have often been learning on the job rather than going through a series of taught programmes.
Logistically, an examination held at a central location would increase costs and only cover a small part of the overall syllabus. Given the need to demonstrate competence and understanding in commissioning, then a portfolio approach will allow candidates to provide examples of existing work, both on paper and electronically. Paper copies would be returned to the candidates and electronic copies would be referenced for knowledge management, library and development.
The portfolio approach allows working candidates the ability to submit their own work for assessment. Each portfolio, taken from the areas above would also require a reflective piece which would also indicate how the report or study meets all the knowledge criteria. For instance in Engagement with Service Users, they would indicate examples of open and transparent relations with service users.
By asking for these criteria to be reinforced, local standards should rise as commissioners and their managers use the Government Skills criteria in reports and strategy. This will help to make a positive difference on the ground and with service users.
To achieve accreditation, we are seeking 4 portfolio pieces which will be assessed against the Government Skills criteria on a pass or fail basis. This will consist of one from A, B, C and D at the candidates choice.
The markers will be provided with guidance, a Professional Quality Standards Committee will be established and the results moderated. Dependant upon demand, the assessment period should be 8 weeks after submission. The first date for registration for submission will be 1st July 2010 with submissions by Oct 1st. Thereafter submissions will be every three months.
To register apply here for Accreditation Award
Candidates can submit their portfolio in stages. This will allow commissioners who only undertake part of the work to gain wider experience over time and enhance their development. An appeal process will be established. A reading list will also be provided for self development.
Exemptions will be given for specific approved qualifications in commissioning.
After 1st July, full member entrance into the IoCP will be subject to passing the Accredited Commissioner award or through holding approved qualifications.
Those commissioners going through the accreditation process will be able to apply for Associate Member status.
Apply here for registration for Student membership.
Practitioner Learning Portfolio
Download it here
Additional Skillsets for Commissioners
The CEO of Kings Fund made an early request that IoCP pays particular interest to the soft skills of its members. Therefore part of the criteria of developing Accredited Commissioners is for successful attendance on a two day Soft Skills module. The first day will be spent learning soft skills theory and the second will take the form of an assessor led case study based simulation and assessment.
List of accredited courses from universities and colleges
Outcomes
We expect that this will contribute to an improvement in the standards of commissioning across the UK and we will seek to monitor user perceptions of these standards.
It will also provide a focus for assessment, appraisal and recruitment and will assist with job evaluation exercises and inevitably, improve the status of the profession.
If you have any questions, then please contact us via email or telephone:
Doug Forbes, Director, Institute of Commissioning Professionals
Doug.forbes@commissioning.org.uk
020 8886 2462
Upon successful Assessment for Accreditation, membership to the IoCP will be offered. Annual membership is £225.
Accreditation assessments are undertaken by the IoCP every three months.
Portfolio applications can be submitted by end-of-month: October; January; April; July.