To award the contract for the delivery of infant feeding services to the winning bidders of the competitive tendering exercise.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 15/07/2014
Decision due: Not before 23rd Jul 2014 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services & Public Health
Reason: In order that the proposed decision can be published in accordance with statutory requirements
To award the contract for the delivery of infant feeding services to the winning bidders of the competitive tendering exercise
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services & Public Health
Lead director: Andrew Scott-Clark
Contact: Karen Sharp, Head of Commissioning for Public Health 0300 333 6497 Email: karen.sharp@kent.gov.uk.
Consultation process
The Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee agreed to support the tendering exercise at their meeting of 22nd April 2014.
At their meeting of 9th July 2014, the Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee received a report on the outcome of the procurement process and:
RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to award a contract to deliver a Community Infant Feeding Service to the preferred bidder identified in the exempt appendix, taking account of the Cabinet Committee’s comments, be endorsed.
Other
consultation planned or undertaken:
A service review and stakeholder consultation and market engagement
exercise was undertaken in 2014. The tender exercise included
evaluation by service user representatives.
Consultees
Public Health completed a consultation to find out what mothers value most about infant feeding services and what they would want a new service to provide. Respondents indicated that they valued having a local specialist service to support breastfeeding in the early days and weeks after they have given birth. They also valued the support and advice from peer supporters who were approachable and available at community venues such as Children’s Centres.
A market engagement exercise, conducted alongside the consultation, highlighted a good level of interest for a county wide service to support infant feeding. Providers supported the proposal for a countywide community infant feeding service which would have responsibility for improving breastfeeding rates across the county by providing a consistent level of support for new mothers including lactation specialists and peer supporters. Providers who participated in the market engagement process also welcomed the expectation of close working and co-location with children’s centres.
Financial implications: Karen Sharp Head of Public Health Commissioning 0300 333 6497 karen.sharp@kent.gov.uk
Legal implications: 14/00077
Equalities implications: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m - not in approved budget or MTFP