Issue details

The Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee discussed the matter at its meeting on 22 March 2016, and the key points were as follows:

1) Karen Sharp, Head of Public Health Commissioning, introduced the item that builds on the previous report to committee (January 2016) detailing the initial review undertaken to inform commissioning of Public Health services for children and young people. Mrs Sharp explained the review focused in particular on health visiting services.

2) In response to views expressed and questions raised Mrs Sharp gave the following information:

a)    That following the results of the review a number of indicators showed low performance. Mrs Sharp confirmed this commissioning was considered an excellent opportunity to improve health visiting services.

b)    That it was her view that the proposal aligns contract end dates in such a way that has enabled sufficient review work.

c)    Performance in some of these areas has been captured in item D2 ‘Public Health Performance – Children and Young People’. Mrs Sharp confirmed this would be returning for every meeting of the Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee.

3) After further discussion it was agreed that a report providing an update on the Public Health Transformation would be included in the Work Programme to come to the July meeting of the Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee.

4) RESOLVED that the Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee endorsed the proposed decision to extend the existing contracts for Health Visiting, School Public Health and Young Healthy Minds services until April 2017.

NOTE: since then, the dates to which the different contracts are proposed to be extended have changed, as follows:

·         School Public Health and Young Healthy Minds – extend to 31 March 2017 (16/00038a)

·         Health Visitor Service – extend to 31 May 2018 (16/00038b)

The Children’s Social Care and Health Cabinet Committee discussed the matter again at its meeting on 5 July 2016, and the key points were as follows:

Ms K Sharp, Head of Public Health Commissioning, and Ms S Bennett, Consultant in Public Health, were in attendance for this item.

1.            Ms Sharp introduced a report on the proposed decision to extend the existing contract for Health Visiting and the Family Nurse Partnership Service (decision number 16/00038b) until 31 May 2018, and gave an update on the progress of the procurement of the School Public Health Service (decision number 16/00038a). She gave the following information:-

a)    the School Public Health Nursing Service had been reviewed and was found to have two clear challenges to overcome; its visibility as a service in schools and its current lack of focus on adolescents;

b)    it was emphasised that the services going forward would have to prioritise emotional wellbeing to a greater extent and to focus on both younger children and adolescents;

c)    the committee was also informed there would an opportunity for market engagement to ensure that the provider had a robust plan for meeting Kent County Council’s targets in this area;

d)    with regard to the Health Visiting Service, it was brought to the committee’s attention that, given the much more recent transfer of the service, the Directorate had had less time to undertake an in-depth review; and

e)    Ms Sharp informed the committee that it would be advisable to delay a procurement of this for the following reasons:

                                          i.    the need to evaluate how to implement recent reductions on the public health  grants, 

                                        ii.    to allow a review of the interface with Children’s Centres to take place,

                                       iii.    to ensure that safeguarding capacity was not at all reduced, and

                                       iv.    to seek the most efficient service model possible.

2.            Ms Bennett gave the following information in response to questions raised by Members of the committee:-

a)    in response to a concern raised, the committee was informed that      local partnerships would be kept up to date with this information;

b)    regarding nursing in secondary schools, there would be a named professional for each school;

c)    reassurance was given that measurement of the impact of their work was considered key and that Public Health would have standard indicators in place to achieve this;

d)    it was confirmed that the School Public Health Service would cover all publicly-funded schools and that private school students could access it via referral;

e)    confirmation was given in response to feedback from Mr Vye that negative case studies could also be included in future reports, to assist frank assessment and discussion; and

f)     with regard to comparison with other Local Authorities which were providing these services, Ms Bennett explained that regular discussion would take place with neighbours in the South East Network, Essex and West Sussex.

3.            RESOLVED that the proposed decision for the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health to extend the existing contract for the Health Visiting and Family Nurse Partnership Service until 31 May 2018,be endorsed.

Other consultation planned or undertaken:

The transformation of services will be developed in partnership with key stakeholders, including the seven Local Health and Wellbeing Boards.