Issue details

Proposed Decision:

a)    APPROVE the development of Parent Infant Mental Health Service for a period of 31 months and subject to evaluation and availability of funds from the Public Health Grant an extension for a further 24 months

b)   APPROVE the expenditure£2,059,928 via the Family Hub Grant initially and then the Public Health Grant

c)    DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to exercise relevant contract extensions and enter into relevant contracts or legal agreements; and

d)   DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health, to take other necessary actions, including but not limited to allocating resources, expenditure, and entering into contracts and other legal agreements, as required to implement the decision

Background:

On 4 October 2022 the Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services took an executive decision (Decision number 22/00094) to adopt the principle of Kent becoming a?Family Hub Transformation Authority.

On 19 July 2024 a further decision 23/00075 by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health was taken to:

APPROVE the development and improvement activity to deliver Perinatal Mental Health and Parent Infant Relationships Interventions

APPROVE the required expenditure, via the Family Hub Grant Funding (£3,051,809 – expires 2025) and, subject to evaluation and availability of funds the Public Health Grant (post March 2025), to deliver and sustain this activity for up to two years beyond the Family Hub Grant period – total service period – 2023 – 2025 with the potential for two x 1-year extensions;

DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to exercise relevant contract extensions and enter into relevant contracts or legal agreements; and

DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health, to take other necessary actions, including but not limited to allocating resources, expenditure, and entering into contracts and other legal agreements, as required to implement the decision.

Decision:

A new decision is being sought to extend the delivery of the Parent Infant Mental Health Service beyond the original timescale set out in the previous Key Decision (with the contract ending in March 2027) and extending delivery until 31^st March 2030 (a total contract length, including exercising the 24-month extension).

Reason for Decision:

Two procurements were previously undertaken for a Parent Infant Mental Health Service Key Decision 23/00075. These did not successfully result in the award of a provider and contract. One in January 24 and the second in August 2024. Feedback from the market is that the opportunity needed longer timescales to mobilise the service.

Key Decision 23/00075 approved a contract to be in place until March 2027. A new decision is needed to reflect amended timeframes for delivery.

A further PSR (Provider Selection Regime) compliant procurement process is proposed, taking into account feedback from suppliers.

How the proposed decision meets the priorities of New Models of Care and Support as set out in ‘‘Framing Kent’s Future – Our Council Strategy 2022 – 2026’’

This service will contribute to ‘Priority 1: Levelling up Kent’ of the Framing Kent’s Future Our Council Strategy 2022-2026’ as providing additional support for families at the start of their infant’s life which is a preventative approach to improve the populations health and narrowing health inequalities.

How the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future

The Parent Infant Mental Health Service supports the Council to achieve the priorities set out in Securing Kent’s Future, by embedding a preventative approach and ensuring children get the best start in life and better outcomes in adult life, leading to reduced demand and costs in Health and Social Care.