SHCA publishes new engagement toolkit for specialised commissioning

As of 1 April 2025, 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) took on responsibility for commissioning 70 specialised services, previously managed by NHS England (NHSE). NHSE has retained around 100 specialised services, including all highly specialised services. This means that, for the first time, there may be a need to engage with stakeholders at a local level on some services and issues.

The SHCA has recently published a new toolkit to support charities and patient organisations to engage with those in the system involved in specialised commissioning at all levels.

The SHCA’s newly published engagement toolkit follows on from previous guides to specialised commissioning for 2023/24 and 2024/25, and aims to help members to understand and navigate the new commissioning arrangements, setting out how best to engage with NHSE, NHS regions and ICBs from the outset of full delegation.

The toolkit includes some explainers to help members understand the intended role of ICBs through delegation, provides an overview of the current specialised commissioning landscape and gives tips on how to engage with the system at national and local levels on issues around specialised commissioning. Given the recently announced planned changes to NHSE and the ongoing review of NHSE’s direct commissioning functions, the SHCA Secretariat will keep this toolkit under review and will update as appropriate.

You can access the toolkit here.