The use of Quality Information in the commissioning of services for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism

Background: Recent scandals have put the quality of care of people with learning disabilities and/or autism under the spotlight. Aim: To explore the role of quality information in the commissioning of learning disability and autism supported accommodation services. Participants: 12 Commissioners (6 Local Authority, 4 CCG, 2 joint commissioners) All were commissioning services for people with learning disabilities or autism There was a good geographic spread of participants, with most regions of England represented. Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews which were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Results: 3 Global themes related to defining and checking quality; Fragmented sources and fragmented content, How quality is conceptualised, Inconsistency/variability in how services are commissioned, monitored and reviewed. Conclusion: Commissioners are drawing together information from a huge variety of sources and content. Commissioners have differing ideas of quality, and there is inconsistency and variability in practice depending on factors specific to each area. There is a greater need for sharing information between professionals

Commissioners need to consistently know what a quality service looks like, in order to commission it. Reliance on others and their own perspective of quality is not enough. Informal networks may be threatened with increasing pressures on commissioners who may have less time to devote to these networks