The Advanced Commissioning Course is a university-accredited programme for clinicians and managers to develop the skills and capability for world class commissioning in the NHS.

It supports NHS and joint NHS/social care commissioners in developing world-class skills and knowledge through a full commissioning year.

It is a practical programme, linked to the workplace, involving both clinicians and managers in an integrated approach.

It aims to help participants develop the best services for their patients, facilitate stronger partnership working, and develop the profession of commissioning. A key feature of the course is the development of regional networks to support learning and to develop local commissioning expertise following the course. Current course participants include practice based commissioners, joint commissioners, specialist commissioners and PCT commissioning managers. 

2008/9 Course

Applications are no longer being taken for the 2008/9 course, however recruitment for the 2009/10 course will commence soon. Click here to view the current 2008/9 course prospectus and here to view three case studies from the 2007/8 course.

If you are interested in working with the Improvement Foundation please go to How we can help or click here to contact us. 

What we are doing

The course is supported by the Department of Health and was designed in partnership with the National Association of Primary Care, the NHS Alliance and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, with the expertise of the London Deanery. It runs from October to the December of the following year and has places for up to 200 people.

Contributors to the programme include world experts in commissioning, senior academics, leading businesses, NHS and social care leaders, and Department of Health experts. Contributers to the 2007/8 course have included Gary Belfield (Department of Health), Paul Corrigan (NHS London), Angela Coulter (Picker Institute Europe), Richard Lewis (Ernst & Young) and Noel Plumridge (Consultant and Health Service Journal Columnist).

The course is run in partnership with the University of Teesside and participants can register for a postgraduate certificate in Advanced Commissioning if they wish.

It involves six two-day national learning workshops and four one-day regional learning groups, plus individual study time. Participants receive academic support from the University of Teesside and peer support from their regional learning groups and optional special interest networking groups.

There are three modules and all participants complete an assignment at the end of each: 

• Strategic planning for commissioning
• Practical commissioning
• Managing performance and impact.

Fees

Course fees are £4,650 + VAT for participants from the NHS/social care family and £7,150 + VAT for private sector organisations. 

What is included:

• National and regional learning events as described in the course outline
• All learning materials and ongoing learning support
• Lunch and dinner at course events
• University accreditation costs for those registering for the postgraduate certificate
• Assessment of written work and access to University of Teesside facilities (including on-line blackboard) for those registering for the post-graduate certificate.

What is not included:

• Travel and accommodation costs
• Funding for backfill or locum costs.

Key results

Participants assess the impact of their own commissioning work undertaken throughout the programme and share their learning and experience with each other, both within their organisations and within their strategic health authority areas. Key outcomes from the programme, around the practice of commissioning, are shared more widely across the NHS and social care.

Participant case studies from the 2007/8 Advanced Commissioning Course:

Please click here to view three case studies from participants on the 2007/8 Advanced Commissioning course.

Comments from participants on the 2007/8 Advanced Commissioning Course:

 "The Advanced Commissioning Course has high quality speakers, very relevant topics and useful presentations. It fits well with our busy working lives and is a must for all current and aspiring commissioners."
Consultant in Public Health Medicine

"The Advanced Commissioning Course has supported me as a commissioner by offering tools and techniques and guiding and forming my often intuitive common sense into firm principles of good practice."
Commissioner, Planned Care

"During the course you will hear from those making the policy you need to work to, and will hear from and discuss with national commissioning experts how best to move your area of work forward towards world class commissioning.  I have found myself naturally using a range of commissioning tools when negotiating with providers, giving the best chance of improving patient outcomes."
Head of Commissioning

"The course has created and heightened awareness especially as a PBC GP commissioner."
GP

"This has helped me to consolidate knowledge, apply effective tools and techniques and is a really good networking opportunity."
Assistant Director, Commissioning

"Fantastic opportunity to network with like-minded people with protected learning time. About time a decent commissioning course was offered."
PBC Lead

"This has been so valuable, really high in ‘take back to work’ value and provided some real tools that will take commissioning from the ark to suburbia."
Commissioning Manager