Strategic Commissioning Practitioner Programme for NHS Leaders

Strategic Commissioning Practitioner Programme

Strategic commissioning is not about understanding more. It's about knowing where to focus.

Strategic commissioners today are being asked to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities, manage rising demand and make the best use of finite resources. At the same time, they must work across increasingly complex partnerships, influence organisations they do not directly control and make difficult decisions about where to focus effort and investment.

The challenge is no longer simply how to commission services. It is how to improve outcomes, create value and lead meaningful change across systems.

Designed for Band 8s, 8Ds, 9s and aspiring executive leaders, the Strategic Commissioning Practitioner Programme helps participants develop the capabilities needed to meet this challenge.

Find out more about the programme below, which starts in January 2027 below, and apply.

Submit an expression of interest

A programme built around real challenges

Unlike traditional development programmes, participants bring a live strategic commissioning challenge from their own organisation, population or place.

Throughout the programme, they test ideas, challenge assumptions, learn from peers and apply practical tools to their own context. Learning is immediately relevant, creating value for both participants and their organisations.

By the end of the programme, participants will have developed a Strategic Commissioning Proposition linked to a real organisational priority.

What you'll be able to do differently

By the end of the programme participants will be better able to:

Make difficult prioritisation decisions
Identify where intervention is most likely to create impact and value
Influence across organisational boundaries
Shape markets, partnerships and provider behaviour
Use commissioning levers more effectively
Balance outcomes, inequalities and finite resources
Build capability and accountability across systems
Translate strategic intent into practical delivery

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What makes this programme different?

Many development programmes focus on commissioning concepts. This programme focuses on applying them to a real organisational priority.

As part of the programme, you will benefit from:

Six facilitated learning modules delivered over six months.
A Strategic Commissioning Challenge based on a live organisational priority.
Two structured dialogic learning sets to test ideas and gain peer feedback.
Self-assessment and an individual Strategic Commissioning Development Profile.
Experienced facilitators and guest speakers.
A capstone Strategic Commissioning Proposition.
Opportunities to learn alongside peers facing similar strategic challenges.

Programme content

Day 1: Strategic Commissioning 2027

Tuesday 12 January 2027
Strategic commissioning is evolving to meet the changing needs of health and care systems. This workshop explores the shift from traditional commissioning, the role of commissioners as system stewards, and the strategic commissioning cycle. Delegates will examine value-based commissioning, neighbourhood health systems and emerging provider models.

Day 2: Population Health

Tuesday 2 February 2027
Effective commissioning requires leaders to make informed choices about which populations, pathways and inequalities to focus on. Delegates will explore integrated needs assessment, community voice, co-production and the trade-offs that shape commissioning decisions.

Day 3: Market Shaping at Scale

Wednesday 10 March 2027
Strong provider partnerships are essential for delivering better outcomes. This workshop develops delegates' understanding of market shaping, provider collaboration and strategic partnerships. Topics include provider readiness, provider ecosystem design and the opportunities presented by SNPs, MNPs and IHOs.

Day 4: Commissioning Levers

Wednesday 14 April 2027
Turning strategy into action requires the effective use of commissioning levers. This workshop focuses on commissioning intent, outcome specifications, incentives and resource allocation. Delegates will also explore financial stewardship and risk-sharing approaches that support delivery and improvement.

Day 5: Leading Your Local Region

Tuesday 18 May 2027
Strategic commissioners must influence across complex systems and partnerships. Participants will strengthen their ability to build coalitions, gain commitment, align stakeholders and drive action across complex systems. Topics include systems leadership, strategic communication and influencing within complex environments.

Day 6: Value, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

Wednesday 9 June 2027
Sustainable improvement requires a focus on value, learning and impact. This workshop explores outcomes measurement, benefits realisation and resource stewardship. Delegates will examine evaluation, continuous improvement, scaling successful innovation and reducing low-value activity.

Dialogic Learning Set 1

From Understanding Need to Strategic Priorities

Building on learning from the first two modules, participants present their Strategic Commissioning Challenge, explore assumptions and system dynamics, test prioritisation approaches and refine their strategic rationale. Delegates leave with a clearer problem definition, refined priorities and peer feedback to support future action.

Dialogic Learning Set 2

From Strategy and Delivery to Impact and Value

Participants present their emerging commissioning proposition and explore implementation risks, system readiness and stakeholder engagement. The session supports delegates to strengthen their approach to delivery, evaluation and benefits realisation ahead of their final submission.

This programme will benefit

Organisations

Increased strategic commissioning capability, stronger collaboration across organisational boundaries, improved approaches to prioritisation and resource stewardship, and greater focus on outcomes, value and population health.

Senior leaders

Leaders will strengthen their ability to make informed commissioning decisions, shape provider markets, influence across complex systems, build effective partnerships and lead strategic change.

Health and care systems

More effective strategic commissioning can support improved population outcomes, stronger collaboration, clearer accountability and a greater focus on value and continuous improvement.

Getting the most out of the programme

Pre-workshop
Participants will complete a self-assessment covering strategic commissioningconfidence, population health understanding, commercial capability, partnership working, system leadership, influence and negotiation, and data and analytical confidence. Delegates will also review recommended reading and identify a Strategic Commissioning Challenge from their own organisation.

Strategic Commissioning Proposition
The programme culminates in the development and presentation of a Strategic Commissioning Proposition. Delegates will draw together learning from across the programme to produce a proposition covering priority populations, strategic rationale, outcomes, commissioning approaches, provider implications, incentives, benefits and evaluation. Participants receive peer review, constructive challenge and faculty feedback to further strengthen their thinking and approach.

Strategic Commissioning Challenge
Every participant identifies a real strategic challenge from their organisation and develops their thinking throughout the programme. Challenges may relate to areas such as mental health, frailty, neighbourhood development, elective transformation, diabetes, community redesign or provider collaborative development.

Attend all sessions
Please add all programme dates to your diary as soon as possible and do everything you can to ensure you are available to attend the full sessions. You will need to attend all workshops to gain the programme certificate. The programme is delivered online and we recommend joining from a location where you can focus fully on the learning. Many delegates choose to join from home where interruptions are less likely. You will need a computer with a camera, microphone and speakers.

Participation
The workshops are designed to be highly interactive and engaging. To gain the maximum benefit, please be prepared to participate in discussions, contribute to group activities, share experiences and keep your camera on where possible. Sessions are not recorded in order to maintain confidentiality and create a safe learning environment.

Learning journal
Throughout the programme we encourage you to keep a learning journal. This can help you reflect on your development, capture key insights, and record examples of how you are applying learning in your workplace. Your journal can also serve as a portfolio of evidence of your development journey.

Meet our facilitators

The Strategic Comissioning Practitioner Programme is run by Mark Leyshon (Director) and Jim Lusby (Associate Director)

Mark is an experienced strategic commercial practitioner with expertise in healthcare commissioning, organisational development and system transformation. A strong negotiator and strategic problem solver, he specialises in collaboration, integration, trust and influencing across complex systems.

Jim has more than 30 years’ NHS experience, including Board level roles, national positions within the Department of Health and the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit. He specialises in organisational and system strategy, building relationships and shared priorities across complex environments.

Find out more about our team >

FAQs

How much does the programme cost?

For members: £2,950 or 10 NHS Elect tokens per person.

For non-members: £3,850 per person.

In-house delivery: This programme is also available for in-house delivery. Contact us to discuss options for your organisation or system.

Programme structure

Six learning modules delivered over six months, supported by self-assessment, pre-reading, workplace application, post-session assignments, two action learning sets and a capstone project.

Programme support options

Six learning modules delivered over six months, supported by self-assessment, pre-reading, workplace application, post-session assignments, two action learning sets and a capstone project.

You will also be encouraged to create a community of practice with other participants throughout the programme and will have access to various digital tools to enable this and apply your learning.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re a senior leader or strategic commissioner looking to strengthen your strategic commissioning skills and increase your impact across health and care systems, we’d love to welcome you to our next cohort.

Apply to the programme