Contracting and funding Healthwatch

Healthwatch England’s role includes providing advice and support to local authority commissioners as well as Healthwatch providers.

We seek to review all local authority tender specifications in advance to support legal/brand compliance and share learning on good commissioning of Healthwatch.

During the tender process itself, we cease providing advice to Healthwatch providers that may prejudice the tender process, though we are on hand to offer advice on transitioning from one provider to another where required, and our guide on social value gives some useful tips to consider when preparing for a tender.

Guidance and resources for commissioners

• Guide to Commissioning an Effective Healthwatch
• Healthwatch commissioning checklist
• What to do when a Healthwatch changes provider
• Healthwatch funding information
• Updates on our potential new model and the Dash review which includes Healthwatch
• Example tender specification - we have used the service specification developed by Brighton and Hove Council as a best practice example for you to use to influence how you develop your own.
• Tender specification template - a standardised framework which can be customised for your local authority area.
• Draft performance framework. This is a performance framework for local Healthwatch which is based on the domains of the local Healthwatch Quality Framework. The Quality Framework assessment is submitted to Healthwatch England and is used for assurance purposes and enables us to provide tailored support. 
• Suggested monitoring report template. This suggested monitoring report should be tailored to reflect your locality. The focus is on achieving tangible outcomes reinforced by transparent decision-making and sound engagement. 
• State of the Network report (coming soon)

Core guidance referenced in commissioning checklist/template tender specifications:

• Guide to Running a Healthwatch
• Decision-making guidance
• Data processing and protection guidance
• Healthwatch trademark licence (coming soon) and brand guidance
• Shared Healthwatch values