Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/060

Contact: Jo Melling, Head of Commissioning – Drugs & Alcohol Tel: (01865) 328664

Report by Director of Public Health (CMDPHVS4).

The Council has a statutory obligation to “take such steps as it considers appropriate for improving the health of the people in its area” (s2B National Health Service Act 2006 (“NHSA 2006”) as amended by s12 Health and Social Care Act 2012). This includes “providing services or facilities for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness” (s 2B (3) (c) NHSA 2006).

Public Health has a ring fenced budget, and within this an allocation has been made for an Integrated Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service. This information is reported to the Cabinet.

The contracts with the two current providers expire on 31 March 2015 so a decision is required in order to proceed with procurement arrangements.

Costs of commissioning these services is greater than £500,000 and commitment to incur this expenditure has not previously been made by the Council due to existing contracts having been transferred in on 1April 2013. For this reason incurring of this expenditure for the commissioning of these services is considered a key decision.

The Cabinet Member for Public Health & the Voluntary Sector is RECOMMENDED to approve the incurring of expenditure for the commissioning of Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services and to delegate to the Director of Public Health, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and the Voluntary Sector, the authority to determine tenders and contracts in order to secure the provision of services.

Approved.

From Councillor Glynis Phillips to Cabinet Member

Item 4 – Provision of Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services

Question

Is there more information available about how a 'prime provider' contract would work? For example would they subcontract services themselves so that if a secondary provider failed to meet targets the prime provider could tender for another secondary provider possibly for less money?  and how would the specifications be different from the current NHS contract?

Answer

The Prime Provider may sub contract elements of the contract, they will outline this within the tender process.  The Council will retain the right to agree subcontracting arrangements, which will include provider suitability and viability checks and any alterations to their sub-contracting arrangement.

The Current Contracts are with both the NHS and the Voluntary sector providers.  The difference from the current specification is for one integrated service, which following our consultations need to:

- Improve information and advice to families

- Provide better support for families

- Improve services for people with complex needs,

- Have a better range of service delivered across the county

- Have access to education training and employment

- Ensure service users are supported to access mutual aid.

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Approved.