Decision details

That the Health Visiting Service contract due to commence on 1st January 2017 be

awarded to Tenderer A, Option A (commercially sensitive details in confidential annexes of the Director of Adult Social Care, Health and Housing’s report).

1          Responsibility for commissioning Health Visitor Service passed to local authorities in October 2015 and the current contract expires in December 2016.

2          A new service contract is required to provide continuity of care and the opportunity to evaluate options for the future provision of Children’s Public Health programmes as a whole. An initial 15 month contract (with a 9 month extension) is proposed so as to coincide with the period of currently guaranteed Public Health Grant funding.

3          A competitive tendering process has been completed and a preferred solution has been identified.

1          To not invest in the continued provision of Health Visiting services.  This would be likely to significantly undermine health outcomes in both young children and parents and represent a false economy in relation to the resulting demand on other services.

2          To integrate Health Visiting into existing council services rather than procure a service from an external provider.  While this is an option for the future, the responsibility for Health Visiting Services only transferred to local authorities in October 2015.  Given the potential complexity inherent in integrating services more time is required to properly evaluate all options and implement any agreed solution.

Public and Stakeholders