Our latest white paper explores the growing need for stronger governance, transparency, and real-time oversight in the management of Individual Service Funds (ISFs) and Third-Party Managed Budgets (TPMBs) – particularly as personalised care packages become larger, more complex, and more central to modern health and social care.
Today, commissioners are responsible for high-value, highly complex packages that frequently exceed £100,000 per year. Yet most current oversight mechanisms remain retrospective, transactional, and disconnected from the actual delivery of care. This leaves commissioners without access to the data required to ensure budgets are used appropriately, care plans are followed, and outcomes are achieved.
Key Challenges Identified
- Fragmented systems and limited visibility during the care delivery phase
- Reliance on retrospective audits and self-reported documentation
- Inability to link planned care, delivered care, expenditure, and outcomes
- Exposure to financial, safeguarding, and quality-assurance risks
- Inefficiencies and unrecovered underspend (typically around 9%)
- Lack of real-time insight for proactive commissioning
A New Model of Oversight
The white paper proposes a governance model built on triangulating the care plan, actual delivery, and outcomes, supported by digital systems capable of capturing care activity, cost, and workforce data in real time. This approach enables commissioners to meet fiduciary responsibilities while improving efficiency, assurance, and sustainability.
The Role of Digital Infrastructure
Our Rostrata system isan example of how real-time data can transform oversight. Unlike traditional rostering tools, Rostrata is designed to be accessed by both providers and commissioners, connecting day-to-day workforce scheduling with strategic, financial, and quality oversight.
This enables:
- Evidence-based commissioning
- Automated recovery of unspent funds
- Real-time safeguarding visibility
- Shared data for open book provider relationships
- Stronger financial governance and affordability planning
- Seamless alignment with ISF and TPMB models
Why This Matters
As ISFs and TPMBs continue to expand across both local authorities and the NHS, the ability to access delivered-care data is essential. By adopting the governance and oversight principles outlined in this paper, commissioners can move from reactive management to proactive, evidence-driven decision-making.
Download the Full White Paper
The full report provides detailed analysis, practical recommendations, and an outline of the digital ecosystem required to deliver safe, transparent, and financially responsible personalised care.