1. Is there any flexibility on the submission date for Expressions of Interest and full applications?
No, we are expecting a large number of applications to be made and have to keep to these deadlines to ensure that the money is awarded to successful applicants on 15 November 2012.
2. Can joint applications be made by CCGs?
Yes:
- one application may be submitted per CCG, and this may include several different contributing projects;
- applications made jointly by 2 or more CCGs will also be accepted.
3. If we are successful in our bid can we carry any of the money awarded over into the next financial year?
Yes: The funding has to be awarded this year but local arrangements can be made to carry it forwards in to 2013-14 if your project plan indicates this is necessary.
4. Is this a one-off or will there be any further funding available later in the year?
Yes this is a one off opportunity, there is no expectation for any additional funding to be available.
5. Where do I find the Dementia Challenge and Dementia Strategy referenced in the guidelines?
All publications referred to within the Guidance for applicants can be found on this website www.dementiapartnerships.org/dementiachallenge/
6. What is the Strategic Health Authority’s ‘Green Agenda’?
The Strategic Health Authority has made a commitment to support a reduction in the carbon footprint of health care services. Applications that contribute to this aim will be especially welcomed.
7. I can’t make the dates for the sub regional briefing events – are there going to be any other events organised?
Please contact your regional / local lead below. The dementia team in NHS South of England would be pleased to provide advice, guidance and support where possible, and they would welcome you making contact. All materials shared at briefing events will be available on this website, including a Resource pack which signposts applicants to some of the many innovations to improve dementia care.
- NHS South of England – South East Coast
Gill Potts, Dementia Transformation Lead
[email protected] | 01293 600300 Ext. 1744 | 07785 456348 - NHS South of England – South Central
Peter Loomes, Senior Project Manager, National Dementia Strategy
[email protected] | 01635 275665 | 07825 448250 - NHS South of England – South West
Kate Schneider, Programme Lead, Dementia, Mental Health, Autism
[email protected] | 01823 361227 | 07973 732766
8. Is there any support available to help CCGs make an application?
Your regional dementia lead, and current PCT/local authority dementia commissioners are able to offer advice and guidance. See the contact details above.
A Resource pack has been produced to signpost applicants to a range of innovations, and information about innovations in dementia. The Resource pack is not exhaustive: it is intended to offer a ‘starter for 10’ to applicants.
9. Will applications only be considered if there is locally matched funding to support the bid?
There is an expectation that applications will have at least an element of local funding / resourcing – that may be a contribution made in £s, or in staff time or other infrastructure resources.
10. What will happen if the £10m is not allocated this year?
We expect to allocate the entire £10m this year. If this does not happen we will ensure the funding is utilised effectively in support of this agenda.
11. If our application is successful how will we receive the funding?
The funding will be allocated to CCGs via PCTS with local arrangements to be made for the funding to be allocated to partner organisations.
12. Do the innovations need to have an evidence base, e.g. demonstrated through a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and/or peer reviewed and/or published in a peer reviewed journal?
YES and NO – yes an evidence base but that might be that it has demonstrably worked elsewhere rather than an RCT. There is nothing to say it could not be proven by RCT but there are many ways of ‘knowing’ and more than one form of evidence.
13. Can the innovation be something done already, which seems to have made a positive impact, or created a measurable change which has benefitted people living with dementia?
Not only ‘can’ but very probably ‘should’ – this is about adoption of good practice.
14. Who, or how should applicants, and selection panels be satisfied that innovations are ‘proven … and best practice’?
The applicants need to demonstrate evidence / proof – recognising that not all things have Level 1 evidence (see the Resource pack). The phrase ‘best practice’ implies that there is only one best way of doing something – that may not necessarily be the case – there may be many ways of achieving best or at least better outcomes. Selection panels may look favourably on creating a rich environment of improving services rather than putting in place ‘service clones’ that would limit future innovation, development and learning.
15. Does the innovation need to have been written-up, and underpinned by different types of evidence?
See above.
16. How much of an account of the evidence is required, to support applications?
There needs to be
- evidence that suggests that the innovation is likely to lead to improved outcomes and / or improved experience of people living with dementia/their carers and families, AND
- that the level of confidence that it will deliver improvement is sufficient to justify risking the investment; AND,
- if the project is funded, that any risk to people living with dementia/their carers and families is acceptable (the risk being service disruption, most likely, rather than risk at an individual level), AND
- that any reputational risk to the service and people and groups associated with the project is acceptable.
17. The PM Challenge includes a Research theme. Are we correct in thinking research is not part of the criteria for the £10m?
Yes.
18. If the funding isn’t for research projects, could applications still include an element which is evaluation of the implementation of the innovation, which might include research, audit or evaluation methods, in order to capture outcomes?
Evaluation of a measurable output / outcome is likely to be a prerequisite for funding, this would imply that they know what it looks like and can demonstrate they have delivered it. We want people to share success.
19. Is there going to be an expectation of equal division, or ‘fair shares’ of the funding between the CCGs ?
No expectation, and a highly unlikely outcome.
20. Will all CCGs receive some funding?
We hope so. BUT if a CCG does not apply it will not receive funding. If a CCG only submits unsupportable ‘bids’ (despite being offered guidance and support), it will not receive funding.
21. How much emphasis is there regarding ‘matching resources’ – will a flexible approach be taken?
Yes – but we expect to see a genuine commitment and adequate resourcing for implementation – sufficient to make us confident that the applicants can do what they say they will do.
22. When will the agencies/groups involved in the selection panels be clarified?
This is for determination by the SHA at sub-regional level. At regional level we can expect the SHA, local authority, finance, and patient and public involvement representation. Details of the selection process, and membership of the groups contributing to the process will be published on www.dementiapartnerships.org/dementiachallenge.