Commissioning external support: questions to ask
Check scope, competence, evidence and privacy before buying support. A credible provider should explain what its service cannot establish.
The performance question
Corporate wellness purchasing can combine organisational advice, coaching and clinical services with very different responsibilities. Define what is being commissioned and who remains accountable for work changes. Do not accept invented credentials or assume a provider’s case study applies to your organisation.
What the evidence supports
NICE recommends using external expertise and tailoring support while keeping organisational approaches foundational. ICO requires additional safeguards for health information. Its current guidance is under review, so procurement should verify applicable requirements with the privacy lead.[1][2]
A practical approach
Ask for verifiable qualifications appropriate to the service, relevant evidence, safeguarding and referral arrangements, data roles, retention rules and contract limits. Clarify who can see individual information and what aggregate reporting will contain. Require a realistic implementation plan and an evaluation approach that does not depend only on satisfaction.
How to review progress
Check delivery against the agreed scope and investigate access or confidentiality concerns. Review results before renewing. Keep employer risk management responsibilities with the organisation and avoid allowing supplier materials to imply guaranteed clinical, retention or financial outcomes.
Sources and references
- Mental wellbeing at work Opens in a new tab
NICE
NG212 sections 1.1 to 1.6: strategy, environment, managers and individual support
- Data protection and workers health information Opens in a new tab
Information Commissioner’s Office
Special category data, lawful processing, minimisation and security. Guidance is under review following legislative change