This sets out the processes and functions Primary Care Trust Clusters will need to perform and where it is important that there is consistency between Clusters. The report includes a month-by-month Guide of Shared Operating Model Milestones.

High-level principles

These principles run through the Model, including:

• Supporting the development of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs); developing commissioning support; preparing for the establishment of the NHS Commissioning Board; transfer of public health to local government

• Strengthening working relationships with local government, supporting CCGs to develop joint working arrangements and to engage in the development of health and wellbeing boards

• Ensuring local knowledge on inequalities (their drivers and effective approaches to addressing inequalities) form part of their work to support CCGs, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Strategies

• Developing shared inclusive leadership across local government and CCGs
  

Developing the model

1. Integrated Finance, Operations and Delivery

Clusters are responsible for the delivery of all PCT functions including:

• working with emerging CCGs on financial planning and control to ensure strong financial management, including the delivery of QIPP

• ensuring that there are appropriate arrangements for effective planning, enabling emerging CCGs to lead the planning round for 2012/13 where they are ready to do so

• involving emerging CCGs in contract negotiation 2012/13, and in longer-term contracts
  

 2. Commissioning Development

Clusters should nurture clinical leadership through the emerging CCGs and build strong relationships with Local Authorities, other clusters and the NHS Commissioning Board.

Clusters to offer support to enable CCGs to be fully authorised without conditions by April 2013 if they wish, or as soon as the process begins in the second half of 2012.

Clusters should facilitate the development of CCGs as intelligent commissioners and customers, with CCGs centrally involved in the development of commissioning support models.

Directly commissioned services and the new system for primary care commissioning will form part of the single operating model of the NHS Commissioning Board.

3. Ensuring quality: effectiveness, experience and safety

Clusters and CCGs must work together to prevent failure as well as to improve services and patient outcomes. A National Quality Board review of roles and responsibilities expected. Clusters to hand over and support CCGs as they assume responsibility for quality. Also to develop a quality framework for Public Health Services, in partnership with local authorities.

4. Emergency planning and resilience

PCT Clusters are expected to maintain the capacity of NHS Commissioners to carry out Emergency Planning and Resilience during transition. The NHS Commissioning Board will deliver a new Emergency Planning and Resilience function.

5. The commissioning elements of provider development

PCT clusters should not enter into agreements that presume future decisions by CCGs. Essential longer-term agreements to be planned in partnership with emerging CCGs. PCT clusters to work in partnership with CCGs to plan for implementing patient choice via Any Qualified Provider.

6. Communications and engagement

Communications and engagement resources will be realigned into a single, locally focused, nationwide shared service to be launched in April 2012.

Shared Operating Model for PCT Clusters (PDF), Department of Health, 28 July 2011