Agenda item

 Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director.

Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, presented the report which sought approval to work with Wiltshire CCG to recommission

a new integrated service delivery model for primary and specialist CAMHS in order to meet the changing needs of children and young people. A number of options for commissioning this service were set out in the report and a recommendation provided on the best option to secure the service required.

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: that Mental health had been identified as a top priority by representatives from the local Youth Parliament; how the proposed procurement process differed from the previous model; the limited number of suppliers in the market; how procurement specialists in the CCG and the Council were working together; the opportunity to provide an holistic service for children and young people; and the increase in demand for services and the changing needs of children and young people;.

In response to a request from the Leader, it was agreed to amend recommendation ii) so that officers be asked to investigate the possibility of Wiltshire Council taking a joint-lead procurer role for the new service.

Following concerns raised by Councillor Glenis Ansell, Carolyn Godfrey clarified that the preferred bidder model proposed was a commonly used procurement process and would still allow for the appropriate due diligence activity to be undertaken.

Resolved

 i.       To agree that the Council should work with the Wiltshire CCG to recommission a new integrated service delivery model for primary and specialist CAMHS to meet the needs of children and young people. To include aligning Wiltshire Council funding for Primary CAMHS with Wiltshire CCG funding for specialist CAMHS;

ii.       That officers be asked to investigate whether it would be practicable for Wiltshire Council to become a joint lead commissioner for the new service;

iii.       To approve the commissioning approach already agreed by the Wiltshire CCG Governing Body to test the market to establish if undertaking a most capable provider process is the appropriate route to secure the service required (option 3). To include authorisation from Cabinet to undertake a tender process if required, in accordance with the ‘light touch’ regime as detailed within the Public Contract Regulations (option 2). This shall be led by the Wiltshire CCG with the Council as an associate; and

iv.       To delegate approval of the procurement process, including the development a revised service specification and decision on award of contract to the Corporate Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cabinet Member for Public Health and the Solicitor of the Council.

Reason for Decision:

The local CCG transformation plan for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing sets out the overall joint strategic direction, clear vision and principles for delivering a child and youth mental health system that can meet the changing needs of children and young people in Wiltshire, for example, the increase in eating disorders and self-harming behaviour. The plan has been developed in partnership with a range of stakeholders from across education, health and social care and reflects the needs and views of children, young people and parents/carers.

In order to deliver the plan effectively (which has been agreed by the Health and Wellbeing Board) and ensure the continued provision of a safe and effective Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the Council needs to work together with Wiltshire CCG to set out a new service delivery model. This requires the Council to align its resources with the CCG and the transformation plan’s strategic objectives.

This report evaluates options for commissioning a new integrated primary and specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. In doing so, it recommends that the Council approves the decision already made by the Wiltshire CCG to test the market to establish if undertaking a most capable provider process is the appropriate route. The key argument in favour of this option is that the market for the provision of CAMHS is understood to be limited regionally.