Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing advising that in September 2016, North West Boroughs Health Care Trust was awarded a contract to provide Integrated 0-19 Healthy Child Programme (HCP) Nursing Services with effect from 1 April 2017. The contract was awarded for three years with an option to extend for up to a further two years.

HCP is an early intervention and prevention public health programme based on a model of “progressive universalism”. This means all families receive a number of standard services (universal). Additional services are available to those who need them or are identified as being at risk.

Consideration was now required on exercising continuation options as the main contract was due to expire on 1April 2020.

Decision Made:

That authority to exercise the option to extend the current contract for a period of two years from the 1^stApril 2020, be granted.

Reasons for the Decision

The current contract is from 1 April 2017 to 31March 2020, with the option to extend for a further 2 years. Approval is sought by the Cabinet to extend the current commission of the HCP Service by an additional two years to March 2022.

This option would provide a longer period of service stability and reduce cost to the Council from engaging in a procurement exercise.

This would enable further review of the service and allow for development of a fully integrated 0-19 public health nursing service, which will influence whether the contract should be varied or recommissioned after this period.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

i)        Exercise one year extension / continuation option. This option would provide a degree of continuity and stability. However, any continuity / stability derived from exercising this option would be limited to twelve months at which point the Council would still need to consider exercising the second extension / continuation option or re-tender the service.

ii)        Conducting a full procurement exercise would not bring about any significant benefits for Sefton Council or for users of the 0-19 service.