Health Anchors Learning Network

Health Anchors Learning Network is a new, UK-wide network for people responsible for, or interested in, anchor approaches in health. The network provides spaces and opportunities for participants to learn with peers and experts about how anchor organisations can consciously use their resources and influence to improve the social determinants of health and help reduce inequalities.

• Read and submit information and resources, join in with the online discussion forum and find out about upcoming events and workshops on the FutureNHS workspace: Health Anchors Learning Network [registration required]
• Some key references on the role of anchor institutions in other countries compiled by Kings Fund (Integrated Care Bulletin 24 March 2021)
• Start here: getting real about the social determinants of health (Don Berwick, 2018 Institute for Healthcare Improvement National Forum keynote)
• Anchor mission playbook (Rush University Medical Center)
• Can the real ‘anchor institutions’ stand up? (The King’s Fund blog)
• Building healthier communities: the role of the NHS as an anchor institution (The Health Foundation)
• The economic influence of the NHS at the local level (The King’s Fund)
• Health Anchors Learning Network
• Health institutions as anchors: establishing proof of concept in the NHS (CLES and The Democracy Collective)
• Maximising the local impact of anchor institutions: a case study of Leeds City Region (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
• Unconventional health and care: five organisations delivering care differently (The King’s Fund blog)

Anchors in a storm: Lessons from anchor action during COVID-19

Anchors in a storm: Lessons from anchor action during COVID-19
Health Foundation 20 February 2021 

• “Anchor institutions” are large public sector organisations rooted in and connected to their local communities. This report identifies nine key lessons about anchor and the COVID-19 pandemic to guide and inspire existing and emerging anchor leaders. Includes case studies and practical examples of anchor action prior to and during the pandemic.

Procurement Policy Note 06/20 – taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts

Procurement Policy Note 06/20 – taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts
Cabinet Office 24 September 2020

• This Procurement Policy Note (PPN) launches a new model to deliver social value through government’s commercial activities which takes into account COVID-19.

Building healthier communities: the role of the NHS as an anchor institution

Building healthier communities: the role of the NHS as an anchor institution
Health Foundation August 2019

• Anchor institutions are large, public sector organisations that are unlikely to relocate and have a significant stake in a geographical area. 
• This report identifies five ways in which NHS organisations act as anchor institutions: employment, procurement and commissioning for social value, use of capital and estates, environmental sustainability and as a partner in a place. 
• The conclusion sets out actions and opportunities for the NHS to harness its considerable influence to have an even greater impact on the health and wellbeing of communities.

Public Value: How can it be measured, managed and grown?

Public Value: How can it be measured, managed and grown?
Nesta May 2019

• This paper brings together views from Nesta on better ways of mapping and measuring public value. It builds on work Nesta has done in many fields – from health and culture to public services – to find more rounded and realistic ways of capturing the many dimensions of value created by public action.

Voluntary Sector Action on the Social Determinants of Health

Voluntary Sector Action on the Social Determinants of Health
Health Foundation, New Philanthropy Capital, and Institute of Health Equity, November 2017

• Many charities pursue social and economic outcomes that impact on health outcomes, but relatively few articulate their work in terms of its relevance to health and health inequalities. 
• There is a wide range of evidence demonstrating either robust associations, correlations, causal links, or significant relationships between social determinants and health outcomes. This report aims to provide the most relevant evidence to enable the voluntary sector to expand and develop its action on the social determinants of health.

Healthy commissioning: How the Social Value Act is being used by CCGs

Healthy commissioning: How the Social Value Act is being used by Clinical Commissioning Groups
National Voices and Social Enterprise UK 30 May 2017

• Analysis of findings based on FOI requests to CCGs (n=191) to assess their use of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. Findings include:
• 13% of CCGs can demonstrate active commitment to pursuing social value in their procurement and commissioning decisions; 
• 43% had no policy / were not aware of a policy or had a policy in development; 
• 13% of CCGs demonstrated ‘highly committed, evidenced and active’ use of the Social Value Act. 
• Weighting procurement for social value is limited and a pass/fail question or a weighting of 2% of the total evaluation was common. 
• 13% of STPs mention social value.
• Recommendations include building social value into NHS England’s Right Care programme, joint guidance on implementation of the Social Value Act and closer working between the voluntary sector and NHS organisations to deliver greater social value.

Social value in procurement

Social value in procurement

New Local Government Network 8 May 2017

• The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 came into force on 31 January 2013. It requires commissioners in public authorities to think about how the services or goods to be procured and the process of procurement could add the most value to the areas and communities that fall within their remit. This publication follows an NLGN discussion that looked at the challenges posed by the Social Value Act.

Realising the Value - delivering community centred health and wellbeing

Realising the Value    (www.realisingthevalue.org)

Health Foundation, Nesta 15 November 2016
This programme examined the evidence on what good person and community-centred care looks like and the potentially wide-reaching benefits then developed and tested ways to embed these approaches, creating a set of tools to allow these to have national and local impact.

Social value toolkit

Social value toolkit: Mainstreaming social value in social care
Voluntary Organisations Disability Group,  14 November 2016

• The new toolkit will promote increased cooperation between social care commissioners and providers and reflects an approach to commissioning which creates maximum value for money from public spending by realising additional benefits from providers – at no extra cost to the public purse. 

The Social Value Difference in Health and Care Commissioning

The Social Value Difference in Health and Care Commissioning
Social Enterprise UK September 2016

• This short report details the difference social value can make in health and care commissioning, and shares learning for other commissioning authorities to make the most of social value.
• It presents the initial findings from SEUK's Health and Social Value Programme, a three-year programme bringing together local CCGs, local authorities, Health and Wellbeing Boards and VCSE organisations in 12 areas across England.

See also

12 Steps to embedding social value priorities in health and care commissioning
Social Enterprise UK September 2016

• A 12 step approach for commissioners looking to make the most of social value.

Social Value Maturity Index for Public Sector Tooolkit

Social Value Maturity Index for Public Sector Tooolkit
Social Value Portal

• A self-assessment tool (available as a download) for public and private sector organisations to assess where they are on their journey of embedding social value.

Integrated care value case toolkit

Integrated care value case toolkit
LGA, NHS England, The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS), Monitor, NHS Confederation and the Department of Health

• The toolkit should enable Health and Wellbeing Boards and local partners to understand the evidence and impact of different integrated care models on service users, as well as the associated impact on activity and cost to different parts of the health and care system.
• The toolkit includes Value cases for integrated care, Modelling tool, Tools to help overcome barriers to Integrated Care, and Online Forums for ongoing Integrated Care Support.

Social Value Act: information and resources

Social Value Act: information and resources
Cabinet Office updated May 2016

• The Public Services (Social Value) Act came into force on 31 January 2013. It requires people who commission public services to think about how they can also secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits.
• The Act is a tool to help commissioners get more value for money out of procurement. It also encourages commissioners to talk to their local provider market or community to design better services, often finding new and innovative solutions to difficult problems.
• Includes Guidance, Programme of Work, Further support and Case studies

Realising the value of people and communities

At the heart of health: Realising the value of people and communities
NESTA February 2016

• This report brings together a wide range of person- and community-centred approaches for health and wellbeing. These range from collaborative consultations that focus on what is most important to people, to community dance classes in the local hall, and can happen in formal health and care settings, people’s own homes and in the wider community.
• The report provides an overview of the existing evidence base with a particular focus on the potential benefits of adopting these approaches.
• The evidence demonstrates the benefits across three dimensions of value:
• Mental and physical health and wellbeing
• NHS sustainability
• Wider social outcomes
• Annexes produced by the Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University
• A scoping review of the evidence base 
• Evidence summaries for  - peer support, self-management education and  health coaching

Local action on health inequalities

Local action on health inequalities: practice resources
UCL Institute of Health Equity for PHE, 15 September 2015

• Following recommendations of the Marmot review, this collection of papers provide practical action that can be taken at a local level to reduce health inequalities. 
• The first papers are 
• Using the Social Value Act
• Promoting good quality jobs
• Reducing social isolation and
• Improving health literacy

Sustainable development strategy 2014-2020

Sustainable Development Strategy for the Health and Care System 2014 - 2020
Sustainable Development Unit, 29 January 2015

• The strategy describes the vision for a sustainable health and care system by reducing carbon emissions, protecting natural resources, preparing communities for extreme weather events and promoting healthy lifestyles and environments. 
• New modules have been developed covering:
• Creating social value
• An integrated approach to metrics
• Innovation technology and RandD

What is good commissioning? a route map for LAs

Commissioning for better outcomes: a route map
Health Services Management Centre for the LGA, 3 November 2014

• A series of standards which describe commissioning, designed to be used by Local Authorities to engage with their commissioning partners in a dialogue about the quality of local commissioning.
• The standards will be used to critically examine the quality of their commissioning practice and then as a framework for the peer challenge process. 
• A peer review methodology will be published in 2015 - see http://www.local.gov.uk/peer-challenge 
• The twelve standards set out ambitions for what good commissioning is:

1. Person-centred and focuses on outcomes 
2. Promotes health and wellbeing for all
3. Delivers social value 
4. Coproduced with people, their carers and their communities 
5. Promotes positive engagement with providers -
6. Promotes equality 
7. Well led by Local Authorities 
8. Demonstrates a whole system approach
9. Uses evidence about what works
10. Ensures diversity, sustainability and quality of the market -
11. Provides value for money 
12. Develops the commissioning and provider workforce

A Brief Guide to the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012

Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 -A Brief Guide
Social Enterprise UK February 2012

• Under the Public Services (Social Value) Act all public bodies in England and Wales are required to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area. It applies to all public services contracts and those public services contracts with only an element of goods or works.