Decision details

Proposed Decision:

Enter into a new Strategic Partnership Agreement for Neurodiversity with NHS Kent and Medway, delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to vary the agreement to widen the geographical scope and parties to the agreement and 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:

Since April 2016 Kent County Council (KCC) has been in a formal partnership with the previous Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Groups, supported by a Section 75 Agreement. The original ambition to develop wider partnership for service delivery was delivered in 2018 when the Learning Disability Alliance was signed. Since the Alliance Agreement ended on 31 March 2021 there has been no use of delegated functions under section 75 of the NHS Act 2006.

The development of understanding and relationships, supported by the Section 75 and Alliance Agreements, combined with the development of Integrated Care Systems in the context of the Health and Care Act, and the continued inequality experienced by neurodivergent people presented an opportunity to review and develop a consistent, coordinated approach and equitable service across the Kent and Medway geographical areas.

The new Strategic Partnership Agreement for Neurodiversity is ready for implementation between Kent County Council and NHS Kent and Medway, with potential for variation by 31 March 2024 to widen the geographical scope and the parties to the agreement in line with the review for a whole System Delivery Partnership for Neurodiversity.

The proposed decision supports Priority 4 of Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement 2022-2026 to integrate our commissioning and planning of services to improve health and social care outcomes.

Do nothing option discarded - the current Section 75 Agreement is in perpetuity but does not offer the flexibility for the partnership to adapt as required to continuously meet the needs of neurodivergent citizens.

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

a) ENTER into a new Strategic Partnership Agreement for Neurodiversity with NHS Kent and Medway; and

b) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to vary the agreement to widen the geographical scope and parties to the agreement and 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.