Agenda item

       To receive a report from the Chief Executive.

Resolved:

To approve:

1.    Wiltshire Council entering a 3-year extension to the jointly commissioned Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service with Bath and Northeast Somerset Council and the Integrated Care Board, provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

2.    To approve the spend of £518,000 per year, for 3 years. This is a total of £1,554,000 for the 3-year period.

3.    To initiate a range of early help pilot programmes from existing underspend in Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service provision to develop a strategic plan for the overarching review of children and young people's mental health services to support the recommissioning of services at the end of the extension period.

4.    To delegate authority to approve the extensions and all associated documents to the Director Commissioning and Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills.

Reason for Decision:

Wiltshire Council will continue to support early intervention and prevention and

increased resilience in Children and Young Peoples mental health.

This will allow Oxford Health to continue providing Child and Adolescent Mental

Health Services (CAMHS) to Wiltshire’s community without a reduction in

service provision.

The extension period of 3 years will enable Wiltshire Council Commissioning to

realise the potential of recommissioning Children’s and Young Peoples Mental

Health Services by allowing time to complete a full and thorough review of the

mental health services currently commissioned within the broad Wiltshire

system.

During this time a range of initiatives will be piloted to inform the review of

children and young people mental health services and ensure that future

commissioning proposals are informed by successful programmes and

interventions.

Currently Wiltshire Council are inputting £518,000 per annum into the CAMHS

contract, with the ICB contributing £18,341,991. Additionally, the BSW ICB fund

a further £518,000 towards a range of mental health services commissioned by

Wiltshire Council.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills presented a report which sought approval to utilise a 3-year extension clause in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) contract jointly commissioned with the Bath and Northeast Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICG) and provided by Oxford Health Foundation Trust to enable the continuation of mental health support to children and young people.

The Deputy Leader explained that the extension period of 3 years will enable Wiltshire Council Commissioning to realise the potential of recommissioning Children’s and Young Peoples Mental Health Services by allowing time to complete a full and thorough review of the mental health services currently commissioned within the broad Wiltshire system. During this time a range of initiatives will be piloted to inform the review and ensure that future commissioning proposals are informed by successful programmes and interventions.

Cabinet noted that currently Wiltshire Council are contributing £518,000 per annum into the CAMHS contract, with the ICB contributing £18,341,991. Additionally, the BSW ICB fund a further £518,000 towards a range of mental health services commissioned by Wiltshire Council.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Chair of Children’s Select Committee, reported that he had received a briefing on 4 October 2024 and raised concerns about the 3-year extension to the contract on the basis that the provider had not delivered on previously made promises for instance CAMHS in schools. He supported the proposed way forward.

Members commented on the underspend and how this would initiate a range of early help pilot programmes and sought confirmation that the Council’s contribution remained the same for each year of the contract. The Deputy Leader agreed that the contract extension is lengthy, however this is due to the complexity of the policy and the ongoing improvements being made.  There would be a genuine re-evaluation of the contract provider during the 3-year contract extension. The Council also has a larger influence in the contract than its financial contribution suggests.

Resolved:

To approve:

1.    Wiltshire Council entering a 3-year extension to the jointly commissioned Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service with Bath and Northeast Somerset Council and the Integrated Care Board, provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

2.    To approve the spend of £518,000 per year, for 3 years. This is a total of £1,554,000 for the 3-year period.

3.    To initiate a range of early help pilot programmes from existing underspend in Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service provision to develop a strategic plan for the overarching review of children and young people's mental health services to support the recommissioning of services at the end of the extension period.

4.    To delegate authority to approve the extensions and all associated documents to the Director Commissioning and Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills.

Reason for Decision:

Wiltshire Council will continue to support early intervention and prevention and increased resilience in Children and Young Peoples mental health.

This will allow Oxford Health to continue providing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Wiltshire’s community without a reduction in service provision.

The extension period of 3 years will enable Wiltshire Council Commissioning to realise the potential of recommissioning Children’s and Young Peoples Mental Health Services by allowing time to complete a full and thorough review of the mental health services currently commissioned within the broad Wiltshire system.

During this time a range of initiatives will be piloted to inform the review of children and young people mental health services and ensure that future commissioning proposals are informed by successful programmes and interventions.

Currently Wiltshire Council are inputting £518,000 per annum into the CAMHS contract, with the ICB contributing £18,341,991. Additionally, the BSW ICB fund a further £518,000 towards a range of mental health services commissioned by Wiltshire Council.