Agenda item

1.    Mr Waller introduced the paper. The report provided information regarding NHS Kent and Medway’s recent decision to award a new Integrated All-Age Mental Health Services (IAAMHS) contract to the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). It outlined the rationale for this contract award, confirmed NHSKM’s commitment to service continuity and workforce stability, and detailed how the contract safeguarded Kent’s voice in future service development.

2.    The paper also set out how statutory duties around service variation and engagement would be met throughout the life of the contract. In addition, it provided an update on the conclusion of NHS Kent and Medway’s recent competitive procurement for Kent’s Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance contract, and the subsequent contract award to Salus CIC.

3.    In answer to a question, Mr Waller said that KMPT would work closely with the current provider to ensure a smooth transition and safe handover, drawing on the existing clinical infrastructure and staffing models. This approach would allow for services to continue without disruption. It also created opportunities for better alignment across the system, particularly in supporting young people aged 16 to 25 as they were often at risk of falling between child and adult services, and as the move toward an all-age model was part of a longer-term strategy to close that gap and improve continuity of care.

4.    Ms Donna Hayward-Sussex (Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust) reassured that that there would be no changes to referral routes, entries into those services and processes related to those services. It was critical that they continued unaltered.

5.    A key benefit of transferring service provision to KMPT was that it was a local provider. In addition, it was the only provider with:

·         Established estates across the region, enabling mobilisation without the delays, costs or risks associated with finding and securing new facilities, or need to communicate details of new locations to children, young people, families, professionals and other stakeholders.

·         A large-scale clinical workforce (over 3,600 staff) with the internal flexibility to absorb the additional services while protecting continuity.

·         Embedded clinical governance structures already aligned to local safeguarding, quality, and risk frameworks.

·         Experience operating mental health services within Kent and Medway, and strong relationships with public health, education, and social care partners.

6.    The contract also included a requirement for KMPT to adhere to agreed protocols for managing service change, including public engagement and formal consultation.

7.    In addition, following a competitive procurement process, NHS Kent and Medway awarded Salus CIC the Kent Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance contract. Salus would deliver the contract through a lead provider model - that is, sub-contracting to a number of Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) providers that already provided services in Kent.

8.    The Kent Therapeutic Alliance service would go live on 1st April 2026, and NHS Kent and Medway was currently working with Salus on a detailed mobilisation plan and communications engagement plan, ensuring alignment with the IAAMHS transfer, Medway Council’s current Medway Therapeutic Alliance procurement, and the launch of Kent County Council’s Therapeutic Support Service.

RESOLVED:

a.    he Committee deems that the proposal relating to the new Integrated All-Age Mental Health Services model is not a substantial variation of service.

b.    NHS representatives be invited to attend this Committee and present an update at an appropriate time.