Common use of Assurance and Oversight Clause in Contracts

Assurance and Oversight. The ICB must at all times operate in accordance with: the Oversight Framework published by NHS England; any national oversight and/or assurance guidance in respect of Specialised Services and/or joint working arrangements; and any other relevant NHS oversight and assurance guidance; collectively known as the “Assurance Processes”. The ICB must: develop and operate in accordance with mutually agreed ways of working in line with the Assurance Processes; oversee the provision of Delegated Services and the outcomes being delivered for its Population in accordance with the Assurance Processes; assure that Specialised Service Providers are meeting, or have an improvement plan in place to meet, National Standards; provide any information and comply with specific actions in relation to the Delegated Services, as required by NHS England, including metrics and detailed reporting. The ICB must ensure that there is appropriate representation at forums established through the ICB Collaboration Arrangement. The ICB must ensure that an individual(s) has been nominated to represent the ICB at the Delegated Commissioning Group (DCG) and regularly attends that group. This could be a single representative on behalf of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB should also ensure that they have a nominated representative with appropriate subject matter expertise to attend National Standards development forums as requested by NHS England. This could be a single representative on behalf of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB shall support the development of clinical leadership and expertise at a local level in respect of Specialised Services. The ICB shall support local and national groups including Relevant Clinical Networks and Clinical Reference Groups that are involved in developing Clinical Commissioning Policies, National Specifications, National Standards and knowledge around Specialised Services. The ICB shall participate in the planning, governance and oversight of the Relevant Clinical Networks, including involvement in agreeing the annual plan for each Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall seek to align the network priorities with system priorities and to ensure that the annual plan for the Relevant Clinical Network reflects local needs and priorities. The ICB will be involved in the development and agreement of a single annual plan for the Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall monitor the implementation of the annual plan and receive an annual report from the Relevant Clinical Network that considers delivery against the annual plan. The ICB shall actively support and participate in dialogue with Relevant Clinical Networks and shall ensure that there is a clear and effective mechanism in place for giving and receiving information with the Relevant Clinical Networks including network reports. The ICB shall support NHS England in the management of Relevant Clinical Networks. The ICB shall actively engage and promote Specialised Service Provider engagement in appropriate Relevant Clinical Networks. Where a Relevant Clinical Network identifies any concern, the ICB shall seek to consider and review that concern as soon as is reasonably practicable and take such action, if any, as it deems appropriate. The ICB shall ensure that network reports are considered where relevant as part of exercising the Delegated Functions.

Assurance and Oversight. The NHS England shall: have oversight of what ICBs are delivering (inclusive of Delegated Services) for their Populations and all patients, design and implement appropriate assurance of ICBs’ exercise of Delegated Functions including the Assurance Processes, help the ICB must at all times operate to coordinate and escalate improvement and resolution interventions where challenges are identified (as appropriate), ensure that the NHS England Board is assured that Delegated Functions are being discharged appropriately, ensure specialised commissioning considerations are appropriately included in accordance with: the Oversight Framework published by NHS England; any national oversight and/or assurance guidance in respect of Specialised Services and/or joint working arrangements; and any other relevant NHS England frameworks that guide oversight and assurance guidance; collectively known as the of service delivery, and host a Delegated Commissioning Group (“Assurance ProcessesDCG”. The ICB must: develop and operate in accordance with mutually agreed ways of working ) that will undertake an assurance role in line with the Assurance Processes; oversee . This assurance role shall include assessing and monitoring the provision overall coherence, stability and sustainability of Delegated the commissioning model of Specialised Services at a national level, including identification, review and management of appropriate cross-ICB risks. NHS England shall ensure that there is appropriate representation in respect of Reserved Functions and Retained Services at local governance forums (for example, the outcomes being delivered Regional Leadership Team) and at NCG. NHS England shall: ensure that there is appropriate representation by NHS England subject matter expert(s) at National Standards development forums, ensure there is appropriate attendance by NHS England representatives at nationally led clinical governance meetings, and co-ordinate, and support key national governance groups. NHS England shall be responsible for its Population in accordance with the Assurance Processes; assure that following: developing local leadership and support for the ICB relating to Specialised Service Providers are meetingServices, or have an improvement plan in place providing clinical leadership, advice and guidance to meet, National Standards; provide any information and comply with specific actions the ICB in relation to the Delegated Services, providing point-of-contact and ongoing engagement with key external bodies, such as required by interest groups, charities, NICE, DHSC, and Royal Colleges, and enabling access to clinical trials for new treatments and medicines. NHS EnglandEngland will host Clinical Reference Groups, including metrics which will lead on the development and detailed reporting. The ICB must ensure that there is appropriate representation at forums established through the ICB Collaboration Arrangement. The ICB must ensure that an individual(s) has been nominated to represent the ICB at the Delegated Commissioning Group (DCG) and regularly attends that group. This could be a single representative on behalf publication of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB should also ensure that they have a nominated representative with appropriate subject matter expertise to attend National Standards development forums as requested by NHS England. This could be a single representative on behalf of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB shall support the development of clinical leadership and expertise at a local level in respect of following for Specialised Services. The ICB shall support local and national groups including Relevant Clinical Networks and Clinical Reference Groups that are involved in developing : Clinical Commissioning Policies, National Specifications, including National Standards and knowledge around for each of the Specialised Services. The ICB Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, NHS England shall participate put in place contractual arrangements and funding mechanisms for the planningcommissioning of the Relevant Clinical Networks. NHS England shall ensure development of multi-ICB, and multi-region (where necessary) governance and oversight arrangements for Relevant Clinical Networks that give line of sight between all clinical networks and all ICBs whose Population they serve. NHS England shall be responsible for: developing national policy for the Relevant Clinical Networks, developing and approving the specifications for the Relevant Clinical Networks, maintaining links with other NHS England national leads for clinical networks not focused on Specialised Services, convening or supporting national networks of the Relevant Clinical Networks, including involvement in agreeing the annual plan for each Relevant Clinical Network with the involvement of the ICB and Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall seek to align , ensuring these reflect national and regional priorities, managing Relevant Clinical Networks jointly with the network priorities with system priorities ICB, and to ensure that agreeing and commissioning the annual plan for hosting arrangements of the Relevant Clinical Network reflects local needs and priorities. The ICB will be involved in the development and agreement of a single annual plan for the Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall monitor the implementation of the annual plan and receive an annual report from the Relevant Clinical Network that considers delivery against the annual plan. The ICB shall actively support and participate in dialogue with Relevant Clinical Networks and shall ensure that there is a clear and effective mechanism in place for giving and receiving information with the Relevant Clinical Networks including network reports. The ICB shall support NHS England in the management of Relevant Clinical Networks. The ICB shall actively engage and promote Specialised Service Provider engagement in appropriate Relevant Clinical Networks. Where a Relevant Clinical Network identifies any concern, the ICB shall seek to consider and review that concern as soon as is reasonably practicable and take such action, if any, as it deems appropriate. The ICB shall ensure that network reports are considered where relevant as part of exercising the Delegated Functions.

Assurance and Oversight. The NHS England shall: have oversight of what ICBs are delivering (inclusive of Delegated Services) for their Populations and all patients; design and implement appropriate assurance of ICBs’ exercise of Delegated Functions including the Assurance Processes; help the ICB must at all times operate to coordinate and escalate improvement and resolution interventions where challenges are identified (as appropriate); ensure that the NHS England Board is assured that Delegated Functions are being discharged appropriately; ensure specialised commissioning considerations are appropriately included in accordance with: the Oversight Framework published by NHS England; any national oversight and/or assurance guidance in respect of Specialised Services and/or joint working arrangements; and any other relevant NHS England frameworks that guide oversight and assurance guidanceof service delivery; collectively known as the and host a Delegated Commissioning Group (“Assurance ProcessesDCG”. The ICB must: develop and operate in accordance with mutually agreed ways of working ) that will undertake an assurance role in line with the Assurance Processes; oversee . This assurance role shall include assessing and monitoring the provision overall coherence, stability and sustainability of Delegated the commissioning model of Specialised Services at a national level, including identification, review and the outcomes being delivered for management of appropriate cross-ICB risks. Where an officer or employee of NHS England is performing its Population Reserved Functions in accordance with the Assurance Processes; assure respect of assurance and oversight, NHS England must ensure that Specialised Service Providers are meetingthose officers or employees do not hold responsibility for, or have an improvement plan undertake any, decision making in place respect of the ICB's Delegated Functions. NHS England shall ensure that there is appropriate representation in respect of Reserved Functions and Retained Services at local governance forums (for example, the Regional Leadership Team) and at NCG. NHS England shall: ensure that there is appropriate representation by NHS England subject matter expert(s) at National Standards development forums; ensure there is appropriate attendance by NHS England representatives at nationally led clinical governance meetings; and co-ordinate, and support key national governance groups. NHS England shall be responsible for the following: developing local leadership and support for the ICB relating to meetSpecialised Services; providing clinical leadership, National Standards; provide any information advice and comply with specific actions guidance to the ICB in relation to the Delegated Services; providing point-of-contact and ongoing engagement with key external bodies, such as required by interest groups, charities, NICE, DHSC, and Royal Colleges; and enabling access to clinical trials for new treatments and medicines. NHS EnglandEngland will host Clinical Reference Groups, which will lead on the development and publication of the following for Specialised Services: Clinical Commissioning Policies; National Specifications, including metrics and detailed reporting. The ICB must ensure that there is appropriate representation at forums established through the ICB Collaboration Arrangement. The ICB must ensure that an individual(s) has been nominated to represent the ICB at the Delegated Commissioning Group (DCG) and regularly attends that group. This could be a single representative on behalf National Standards for each of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB should also ensure that they have a nominated representative with appropriate subject matter expertise to attend National Standards development forums as requested by NHS England. This could be a single representative on behalf of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB shall support the development of clinical leadership and expertise at a local level in respect of Specialised Services. The ICB Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, NHS England shall support local put in place contractual arrangements and national groups including Relevant Clinical Networks and Clinical Reference Groups that are involved in developing Clinical Commissioning Policies, National Specifications, National Standards and knowledge around Specialised Services. The ICB shall participate in funding mechanisms for the planning, governance and oversight commissioning of the Relevant Clinical Networks. NHS England shall ensure development of multi-ICB, including involvement in and multi-region (where necessary) governance and oversight arrangements for Relevant Clinical Networks that give line of sight between all clinical networks and all ICBs whose Population they serve. NHS England shall be responsible for: developing national policy for the Relevant Clinical Networks; developing and approving the specifications for the Relevant Clinical Networks; maintaining links with other NHS England national leads for clinical networks not focused on Specialised Services; convening or supporting national networks of the Relevant Clinical Networks; agreeing the annual plan for each Relevant Clinical Network with the involvement of the ICB and Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall seek to align , ensuring these reflect national and regional priorities; managing Relevant Clinical Networks jointly with the network priorities with system priorities ICB; and to ensure that agreeing and commissioning the annual plan for hosting arrangements of the Relevant Clinical Network reflects local needs and priorities. The ICB will be involved in the development and agreement of a single annual plan for the Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall monitor the implementation of the annual plan and receive an annual report from the Relevant Clinical Network that considers delivery against the annual plan. The ICB shall actively support and participate in dialogue with Relevant Clinical Networks and shall ensure that there is a clear and effective mechanism in place for giving and receiving information with the Relevant Clinical Networks including network reports. The ICB shall support NHS England in the management of Relevant Clinical Networks. The ICB shall actively engage and promote Specialised Service Provider engagement in appropriate Relevant Clinical Networks. Where a Relevant Clinical Network identifies any concern, the ICB shall seek to consider and review that concern as soon as is reasonably practicable and take such action, if any, as it deems appropriate. The ICB shall ensure that network reports are considered where relevant as part of exercising the Delegated Functions.

Assurance and Oversight. The ICB must at all times operate in accordance with: the Oversight Framework published by NHS England; , any national oversight and/or assurance guidance in respect of Specialised Services and/or joint working arrangements; , and any other relevant NHS oversight and assurance guidance; , collectively known as the “Assurance Processes”. The ICB must: develop and operate in accordance with mutually agreed ways of working in line with the Assurance Processes; , oversee the provision of Delegated Services and the outcomes being delivered for its Population in accordance with the Assurance Processes; , assure that Specialised Service Providers are meeting, or have an improvement plan in place to meet, National Standards; , provide any information and comply with specific actions in relation to the Delegated Services, as required by NHS England, including metrics and detailed reporting. The ICB must ensure that there is appropriate representation at forums established through the ICB Collaboration Arrangement. The ICB must ensure that an individual(s) has been nominated to represent the ICB at the Delegated Commissioning Group (DCG) and regularly attends that group. This could be a single representative on behalf of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB should also ensure that they have a nominated representative with appropriate subject matter expertise to attend National Standards development forums as requested by NHS England. This could be a single representative on behalf of the members of an ICB Collaboration Arrangement. Where that representative is not an employee of the ICB, the ICB must have in place appropriate arrangements to enable the representative to feedback to the ICB. The ICB shall support the development of clinical leadership and expertise at a local level in respect of Specialised Services. The ICB shall support local and national groups including Relevant Clinical Networks and Clinical Reference Groups that are involved in developing Clinical Commissioning Policies, National Specifications, National Standards and knowledge around Specialised Services. The ICB shall participate in the planning, governance and oversight of the Relevant Clinical Networks, including involvement in agreeing the annual plan for each Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall seek to align the network priorities with system priorities and to ensure that the annual plan for the Relevant Clinical Network reflects local needs and priorities. The ICB will be involved in the development and agreement of a single annual plan for the Relevant Clinical Network. The ICB shall monitor the implementation of the annual plan and receive an annual report from the Relevant Clinical Network that considers delivery against the annual plan. The ICB shall actively support and participate in dialogue with Relevant Clinical Networks and shall ensure that there is a clear and effective mechanism in place for giving and receiving information with the Relevant Clinical Networks including network reports. The ICB shall support NHS England in the management of Relevant Clinical Networks. The ICB shall actively engage and promote Specialised Service Provider engagement in appropriate Relevant Clinical Networks. Where a Relevant Clinical Network identifies any concern, the ICB shall seek to consider and review that concern as soon as is reasonably practicable and take such action, if any, as it deems appropriate. The ICB shall ensure that network reports are considered where relevant as part of exercising the Delegated Functions.