Prevention is better than cure. For too long, public health and care systems have been focused on managing illness rather than preventing it. That’s about to change.

This framework will tackle the root causes of poor health and well-being, ensuring that people are connected to the right support before they reach crisis point or need clinical intervention.

This isn’t just a procurement exercise – it’s a new way of thinking about public health and social care. It’s about addressing the wider contributing factors to health like access to housing, mental health, financial insecurity, addiction and social isolation. These issues are often at the heart of why people become unwell in the first place.

Creating this framework is only one part of the solution; it also needs to be used by the right people. That’s why this framework will be designed to make it easier for procurement and commissioning teams to access these crucial services.

Procurement in the public sector can be complex and time-consuming, creating barriers for both suppliers and and commissioners. This framework will provide a structured, compliant route to market, where suppliers have been supported to make the most of their bids and secure a place on the framework. By removing these barriers, we can unlock the potential of local suppliers – particularly VCSEs (voluntary, community and social enterprises) and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) – to deliver high impact services that strengthen communities and improve health outcomes.

To make this framework as effective, accessible and functional as possible, we are working closely with the people and organisations who understand these challenges best.

We will be holding two co-design sessions with key stakeholders from across the NHS, local authorities and the voluntary sector. Attendees will include a diverse mix of professionals such as senior health inequalities advisors, regional net zero leads, commissioning managers, procurement specialists and policy and strategy managers.

Bringing together expertise from areas like sustainability, health inequalities and service delivery will help us shape a framework that reflects the reality on the ground, not just theory.

We also want to hear from the suppliers who will deliver services under this framework. We’ll be holding two supplier sessions to understand how the framework can align with their capabilities while also identifying and addressing any barriers that might prevent them from participating. This will help ensure that the framework will work for everyone.

As Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London said, ‘What’s the point of treating people and then sending them back to the conditions that made them sick in the first place?’

If you are interested in collaborating on the Social Impact framework, contact [email protected].