Atlas of Variation 2015 Opportunity Locator tool

"The Atlas of Variation Opportunities Locator is a companion tools to the NHS Atlas of Variation 2015. It uses the same data and maps but allows local commissioners to select and view the CCG and Local Authority maps for their own local population across a wide range of disease areas contained in the Atlas."

Atlas of Variation 2015 Opportunity Locator tool
NHS RightCare
2015

Access the locator tool here.

Health Visiting Programme and 0-5 Commissioning of Public Health Services

"Local authorities know their communities and understand local need so can commission the most vital services to improve local children’s health and wellbeing. One of the benefits of councils commissioning health visitor services is that it offers opportunities to link with wider systems, such as housing, early years education providers and to enable the integration of children’s services." 

Factsheet on Health Visiting and commissioning of public health services for 0 to 5 year olds
Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England
November 2014

Read more here.

Care Act 2014: statutory guidance for implementation

"The guidance associated with the Care Act set out how the Act will work in practice when the first phase of the reforms comes into effect next year."

Care Act 2014: statutory guidance for implementation
Department of Health
October 2014

Read more here.

Improving contraceptive services

"Investment in contraception saves money by reducing unintended pregnancy rates. This, in turn, will reduce costs for: the NHS, the education system, welfare" 

Contraceptive services
NICE local government briefings
March 2014

Read more here.

Community engagement to improve health

"If local authorities and their partners get local communities involved in decisions about how to design or improve services this will make services more effective, cost-effective and sustainable – and there will be greater uptake."

Community engagement to improve health

NICE local government briefings

March 2014

Read more here. 

Adult social care in England

"This report, the first in a series on adult care, describes the care system. It highlights the main risks and challenges as the system is changed radically, some of which will be covered in more detail in future years."

Adult social care in England: overview
A Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General
Department of Health and Department for Communities and Local Government
National Audit Office
March 2014

Read more here.

Making best use of the Better Care Fund

"This paper summarises the evidence from work by The King’s Fund and other research about which approaches are likely to offer commissioners maximum impact in a way that will benefit both the NHS and social care."

Making best use of the Better Care Fund
R Humphries, L Bennett
The King's Fund
January 2014

Read more here.

Systematic reviews for informing policy decisions

"This guide is a short introduction for decision-makers and researchers or anyone else considering whether a systematic review may be appropriate to fill a gap in knowledge or to use as a resource. It will help anybody planning on commissioning a review of what research is already out there. You may be an analyst, evaluator, policymaker or commissioner."

Learning from research: systematic reviews for informing policy decisions
D Gough, S Oliver, J Thomas
Alliance for Useful Evidence
EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London
December 2013

Read more here.

Housing and public health in England

"Public health colleagues may find it helpful to reflect on the realities of working in local authority housing teams, where life is not necessarily easy."

Under one roof? Housing and public health in England
Ed Harding
Housing Learning and Improvement Network
December 2013

Read more here.

Older people's prevention services

"A challenge remains in how best to help Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) to set clear objectives and demonstrate their impact, without stifling their holistic and needs-driven approach to development and delivery."

Older people's prevention services: comparing perspectives of local authorities and the third sector
National Institute for Health Research
November 2013

Read more here.

Health and wellbeing boards: one year on

"Relationships between clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities are reported to be very good and getting better and have withstood a demanding year of complex organisational change and mounting pressures on services and budgets."

Health and wellbeing boards: one year on
R Humphries, A Galea
The King's Fund
October 2013

Read more here.

Health Profiles

"Health Profiles provide summary health information to support local authority members, officers and community partners to lead for health improvement."

Access the Health Profiles here.

Integrated care and support

"Person-centred coordinated care and support is key to improving outcomes for individuals who use health and social care services."

Integrated care and support: our shared commitment
National Collaboration for Integrated Care and Support
May 2013

Read more here.

Briefing on NHS health checks for local authorities

"Local authorities are now responsible for commissioning health checks. This briefing provides information about the programme."

Briefing on NHS health checks for local authorities
Primary Care Commissioning
April 2013

Read more here.

Commissioning sexual health services and interventions

"Sexual health is an important and wide-ranging area of public health. Most of the adult population of England are sexually active, and having the correct sexual health interventions and services can have a positive effect on population health and wellbeing as well as individuals at risk."

Commissioning sexual health services and interventions: best practice guidance for local authorities
Department of Health
March 2013

Read more here.