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| Clinical Commissioning Group Assurance Framework | |
|---|---|
| Name | Clinical Commissioning Group Assurance Framework |
| Type | Policy framework |
| Established | 2013 |
| Jurisdiction | National Health Service |
| Headquarters | London |
| Parent organisation | Department of Health and Social Care |
Clinical Commissioning Group Assurance Framework The Clinical Commissioning Group Assurance Framework is a systematic oversight mechanism developed to evaluate NHS England-contracted Clinical Commissioning Group performance and compliance within the National Health Service (England). Drawing on instruments used by the Care Quality Commission, Monitor (NHS) and Health and Social Care Act 2012 reforms, the framework sets standards for finance, quality, governance and commissioning across regions including Greater London, Greater Manchester, and West Midlands. It interfaces with policy drivers such as the Five Year Forward View, NHS Long Term Plan and regulatory guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Overview situates the Assurance Framework against reform milestones like the Health and Social Care Act 2012, the establishment of NHS England, and the role of Clinical Commissioning Groups after the abolition of Primary Care Trusts. It references oversight models from agencies including the Care Quality Commission, NHS Improvement, and Public Health England. The design draws on accountability precedents from House of Commons Health Select Committee inquiries and aligns with strategic initiatives such as the Five Year Forward View and partnerships involving Integrated Care Systems.
The Purpose and Objectives section defines aims to secure safe, effective and financially sustainable commissioning by CCGs, consistent with statutory duties under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and expectations set by NHS England and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Objectives include reducing unwarranted variation identified by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, improving patient outcomes reflected in Quality and Outcomes Framework measures, and ensuring stewardship compatible with Care Act 2014 responsibilities and local authority integration exemplified by Better Care Fund arrangements.
This section details governance arrangements linking CCG governing bodies, NHS England regional teams, Clinical Commissioning Group audit committees, and external auditors such as the Comptroller and Auditor General and National Audit Office. It outlines lines of accountability through statutory officers including Accountable Officers and Chief Clinical Officers and references statutory obligations under the Localism Act 2011 and public sector transparency standards akin to Freedom of Information Act 2000 requirements. Escalation pathways reference mechanisms used by NHS Improvement and precedent cases reviewed by the Care Quality Commission.
Assessment Criteria and Performance Indicators enumerate metrics drawn from NHS performance frameworks: A&E targets, Referral to Treatment (RTT), Cancer waiting times, Ambulance response times, and financial control totals. Quality indicators include measures influenced by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, Care Quality Commission inspection ratings, and patient-reported outcome measures similar to NHS Friends and Family Test. Commissioning effectiveness is assessed against procurement and contract management standards used by Monitor (NHS) and Competition and Markets Authority scrutiny where applicable.
Assurance Processes and Methodology describes cyclical review stages: self-assessment, peer review systems modelled on Clinical Senate practice, external validation by NHS England regional teams, and remedial planning informed by NHS Improvement intervention protocols. Methods incorporate data analytics from sources such as Hospital Episode Statistics and Clinical Practice Research Datalink, and governance audits utilising standards from Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and audit tools referenced by the National Audit Office.
This section maps stakeholder roles: CCG governing bodies, Accountable Officers, Chief Nurses, GP representatives, and lay members interacting with NHS England, Local Government Association, and Health and Wellbeing Boards created under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. It also covers relationships with providers including NHS Foundation Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Group partner trusts, private providers regulated by the Care Quality Commission, and patient groups such as Healthwatch England. Commissioners must coordinate with organisations like the British Medical Association and professional bodies including the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting addresses operationalisation via annual assurance cycles, risk registers aligned with Corporate Governance Code expectations, and performance dashboards reported to NHS England regional directors and parliamentary bodies such as the House of Commons Health Select Committee. Reporting combines quantitative datasets from Hospital Episode Statistics and qualitative evidence from Care Quality Commission inspections, with escalation routes informed by precedent from NHS Improvement interventions and audit findings published by the National Audit Office.