Decision details

To obtain approval for the People Directorate to be be the commissioning body for Sefton Healthwatch and commence the tender process to begin in November 2012 in readiness for April 2013

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Older People on the various commissioning options for a Local Sefton Healthwatch and Independent Complaints Advocacy Service and the Officers’ recommendations which reflected the views of the various stakeholders who have been consulted during the last year whilst LINks have been preparing for the transition process for the implementation of Local Healthwatch.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 amended the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to make provisions for a Local Healthwatch as the consumer champion for health and social care services. Local Authorities had a responsibility for commissioning this new service to replace the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) from 1 April 2013 and for the commissioning of a Local Independent Complaints Advocacy Service which was previously commissioned by the NHS.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

Decisions Made:

(1)       that approval be given to “a transitional host being commissioned to help set up a Local Healthwatch as a social enterprise which could be a trading arm of the host organisation”; and

(2)       that approval be given to a joint commissioning approach for an Independent Complaints Advocacy with other Merseyside local authorities being adopted, with Liverpool City Council leading the procurement exercise and Sefton Council being represented on the Selection Panel.

Reasons for Decisions:

Section 182 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 imposed a duty on the Council to make contractual arrangements with a Local Healthwatch organisation for the involvement of local people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of health and social services.

Section 185 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 transfers from the government to local authorities the duty to make arrangements for the provision of independent advocacy services for complaints relating to health services.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Details of the alternative options are set out within the report.