Class 3. Financial and Funding Information

Class Description: Funding details, charging policies and financial accounts.

Contents Table

Financial and Funding Information

The statutory framework for health and social services in Northern Ireland operates within three tiers; the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), Health & Social Services Boards (Boards) and Health & Social Services Trust (Trusts)

The DHSSPS is responsible for developing and promoting policies and strategies which lead to good health and wellbeing. It also ensures the delivery of effective, high quality health and social care. Boards commission health and social services for their resident population across nine programmes of care and have agreements with provider Trusts for the delivery of services.

As regards the financial arrangements, early in each calendar year the DHSSPS issues an allocation letter to Boards setting out their budgets for the forthcoming financial year. In addition to giving details of funding amounts for established services, the allocation letter also quantifies additional resources for new services and targets as set out in the DHSSPS’ Priorities for Action (PfA) document. Boards then agree Service and Budget Agreements (SBA) with provider Trusts for the delivery of services. Trusts prepare a Trust Delivery Plan describing how they intend to use their resources to meet the obligations in the SBAs, the targets in the DHSSPS’ PfA document and any other managerial objective set by the DHSSPS.

Within North and West Belfast Health & Social Services Trust a financial strategy is prepared at the beginning of the financial year. The financial strategy sets out the financial framework for the Trust, taking account of themes outlined in the DHSSPS’ allocation letter and Boards’ Service and Budget Agreements (SBAs). It identifies funding streams from the various SBAs etc and establishes budgets for services within the overarching statutory requirements to break even in financial terms. The financial strategy is prepared by the Director of Finance and approved by the Trust Board. Expenditure and income is monitored against the financial strategy on an ongoing basis throughout the financial year and is reported to the Trust Board at public meetings.

Purchasing Of Supplies & Contracts

The Trust purchases its equipment and supplies through the Central Services Agency (CSA), Regional Supplies Service (RSS). The latter is the sole provider of professional supplies services to customers within the NI Health and Social Services Trusts and Agencies. Details of Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) Adverts, standard terms and conditions and imminent tenders can be obtained from the CSA web site

www.rss.centralservicesagency.com

In addition the Trust has produced in conjunction with Regional Supplies Service a comprehensive guide to procurement.

North & West Belfast Health & Social Services Trust adheres to the Department of Health and Social Services mini code guidelines when inviting Tenders. Notices to Contractors are placed in the local press and, where appropriate the OJEC.

The year 2002-2003 showed 92 contracts awarded for capital works ranging in costs from £1,700 - £400,000. The work ranged as follows:

Class No: 3

Class Name: Financial and Funding Information

Class Description: Funding details, charging policies and financial accounts (see also Class 8 for financial policies and procedures)

Reference Number	Content Title	Content Description	How to obtain/format	Frequency of update	Available from
3.1	Annual Accounts	Set of full year accounts	Click on Link Below Financial Information	Annual – from September each year
3.2	Procurement Policy	Comprehensive guide to procurement	Click on Link Below Procurement Policy	As required	Corporate Affairs and Human Resources Dept 02890 327156
3.3	Procurement Minicode	Guidelines for tendering	www.rss.centralservicesagency.com	As required
3.4	Annual Financial Strategy	Information on the funding streams and budgets for services for the coming financial year	Click on Link Below Financial Strategy	Annually	Finance Department 02890 327156
3.5	Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG)		http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/	As required	DHSSPS