Decision details

Proposed decision:

Commence joint commissioning activity for a Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.

Reason for the decision:

The current contract arrangements end on 31 March 2023. Ongoing performance and quality monitoring, service reviews and recent market engagement findings provides significant evidence that the service delivers successful outcomes in line with the original vision. The service has supported the market to increase and improve the overall offer of mental health and wellbeing interventions available in Kent.

The outcomes achieved to date for Kent residents who have used the service demonstrate the numerous benefits of the service. The service has become a vital element of Kent’s mental health pathway and the service has demonstrated a clear need for such support.

Mental ill health currently represents 23% of the total burden of ill health in the UK and is the largest single cause of disability.

One in four adults in Kent experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any given year, and it is estimated that around 212,000 people in the county have a common or severe mental illness.

The National Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults was published in September 2019 and sets out a plan for radical change in the design of community mental health care.

The National Community Mental Health Framework (CMHF) supports delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan vision for an accessible, person-centred and place-based comprehensive mental health offer through the alignment of Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and stronger relationships with Local Authority and voluntary sector services.

In order to achieve its vision all Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in England will receive their ‘fair share’ of central transformation funding to deliver new models of integrated primary and community mental health care for adults and older adults with severe mental health problems.

Transformation funding should be used to bring about whole system change across local health and care partnerships, enabling people with severe mental health problems to live well in their communities. Kent and Medway have now secured funding over three years to deliver this ambitious programme.

In Kent and Medway, the programme delivery team has been established, workstreams have been developed and work has begun.

The Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service performs a pivotal role and is a key partner as part of the transformation programme.

Considering the evidenced need for community mental health and wellbeing services in Kent, the success of current provision and the clear interdependencies between the continuation of these services and the success of the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme, it is recommended Kent County Council (KCC) continue to work in collaboration with Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (K&M CCG) or its successor body and Medway Council to jointly commission the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. This approach supports the aspiration for closer integration and working with Health/CCG commissioning colleagues.

The contract start date will be 1 April 2023 and will be jointly funded by Kent County Council, Kent & Medway NHS CCG and Medway Council. The Contract length will be 3 years with a 2-year extension option and delivery will be by preferred bidders identified following a competitive tendering exercise.

Financial Implications: 

The contract length will be 3 years with a 2-year extension option. The table below outlines the costs to KCC Adult Social Care and KCC Public Health for the initial 3 years and extension option.

Table 1: Contract costs to KCC Adult Social Care and Public Health (Initial 3 years and extension options)

The above contract values can be funded within the approved budget.

Table 2: Contract costs for Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Legal Implications:

It is the intention to undergo a procurement exercise to identify a suitable supplier in accordance with PCR 2015 Regulation 32(2)© and Procurement Policy Note 01/20.

Section 2 of the Care Act 2014 places a general duty on local authorities to provide, arrange or otherwise identify services, facilities, and resources to prevent, delay or reduce the needs of adults for care and support. The Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service contributes significantly to:

·       Prevention

·       Integrated partnership working and

·       The provision of good quality services and goods

A Section 256/Memorandum of Agreement will be entered in to by all parties to provide a framework within which to work with health partners and other local authorities and includes financial protections for KCC. Given the joint nature of the contract in place, ASCH operations would support the merits of this request.

If there is a change in Strategic Partners, TUPE regulations will apply. KCC needs to be conscious to mitigate the disruptive effect that this may have on current service users.

As Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, I agree to:

a) COMMENCE joint commissioning activity for a Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service; and

b) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take other relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the decision.