Host Commissioner
Host Commissioner guidelines: People diagnosed with a Learning Disability and/or Autism
NHS England and NHS Improvement published Host Commissioner guidance in January 2021. This describes a clear expectation that as the local CCG we ensure that we have assurances and maintain effective quality surveillance of all independent hospitals within our geographical boundaries. There are six Independent Hospitals in Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent supporting people with a diagnosis of a mental health condition or a diagnosis of a learning disability and/or autism. The hospitals are caring for people who have been placed by many different Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) into Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent. A list of the hospitals is provided at the end of this page. Whilst the Host Commissioner guidance relates specifically to the quality of care for people with a diagnosis a Learning Disability and/or Autism at NHS Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent CCG we have decided to extend elements of the oversight described by NHS England to all people placed with Mental Health illness, Learning Disability and/or Autism.
You can contact us via our Host Commissioner inbox – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
At NHS Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent CCG our role as Host Commissioner is to:
- Maintain quality surveillance of our local Independent Hospitals.
- Be the point of contact for all placing CCGs in relation to quality assurance queries.
- Collate intelligence and triangulate information to address any quality or safety issues.
- To share and request intelligence across commissioners placing people in our area.
The role of CCGs placing in Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent CCG is to:
- Talk to us prior to admitting a person into Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent.
- Retain oversight for the clinical care of people you place in our area and ensure you’re your contingency plans are robust.
- Talk to us about any quality or governance concerns you identify within Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent Independent Hospitals.
- Collaborate with us when we set up collaborative assurance meetings across CCGs. The purpose of these is to share information across stakeholders and work together to support Independent Hospitals to maintain quality, mitigate risk and resolve concerns.
Quality Surveillance
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent CCG has a well-established oversight for Independent Hospitals in our area and this includes:
- Ongoing and supportive contact to seek assurance about the quality of care delivered.
- Scheduled yearly and responsive quality visits.
- Quarterly quality submissions against the Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent CCG Quality Schedule.
- Triangulating other intelligence that arises from other sources such as stakeholders, 6/8-week checks, Care and Treatment Reviews etc.
- Establishing a formal and collaborative assurance process across placing CCGs and other stakeholders where concerns have been identified.
Reporting safeguarding concerns
We work very closely with our Local Authority safeguarding Leads to share intelligence about any allegations of abuse or neglect. Should you have any safeguarding concerns or wish to make a safeguarding referral it will be your responsibility as placing CCG to contact the Local Authority. Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent safeguarding teams will also contact you directly should a local safeguarding concern be raised that involves the person you have placed in Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent
Please talk to us when you are considering placing a person with a diagnosis of a Learning Disability and/or Autism in Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent area
If you intend to admit a person within Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent we invite you to contact us in advance and we will be able to advise you of any current safety or quality concerns. When contacting us please do not include person identifiable information in your emails. As Host CCG we will never ask for identifiable information about people you place in our area.
How to tell us about a concern
It is important that CCGs placing in Staffordshire and Stoke on Tent CCG talk to us about any quality or governance concerns they may identify. This will help us triangulate information and also address any identified concerns as Host Commissioner. We also encourage our independent providers to talk to us about concerns that arise. You can tell us about a concern via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Independent Hospitals contacts include:
Ballington House |
Ballington Gardens, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 5LW |
01538 399796 |
Cygnet St Augustine's |
Cobridge Road, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5JP |
01782 200860 |
Eldertree Lodge |
Eldertree Lane, Ashley, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 4LX |
01630 673800 |
John Munroe Hospital |
Horton Road, Rudyard, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8RU |
01538 306244 |
Edith Shaw Hospital |
Hugo Street, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 5PE |
1538 384082 |
Woodhouse Independent Hospital |
Lockwood Road, Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 4QU |
01539 755623 |
Huntercombe Hospital - Stafford (NHSE) |
Ivetsey Bank, Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, ST19 9QT |
01785 840000 |