Decision details
Authority to Award a Contract for the Provision of a Targeted Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People in Identified Vulnerable Groups (Recordable Officer Decision)
Decision Maker: Strategic Director - Children and Young People
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
To request authority to direct a contract award for a Targeted Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People in Identified Vulnerable Groups.
Decision:
That the Strategic Director Children and Young People:
i) Approves the direct award of contract for a Targeted Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People in Identified Vulnerable Groups to the Anna Freud Centre for a period of 12 months from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022.
Reasons for the decision:
Officers recommend a direct award for a 12 month contract to the Anna Freud Centre as it would test an expanded service model which has been developed to meet emerging need in the context of Covid-19 and build on the success of the pilot model which has supported young people who might otherwise have been escalated to specialist CAMHS. Additional capacity for clinical psychologist input would support more vulnerable children and young people and enable the service to reach an increased number of children and young people. The direct award of the contract would allow time for further work to be undertaken to explore joint commissioning arrangements to support mental health and emotional wellbeing services targeted at prevention and early intervention longer term. The award would also allow time for services to develop a greater understanding of the impact of the last 12 months on children and young people to inform future service design. Feedback on the provider from practitioners, schools, children and young people and parents is highly positive and it would not be good practice to disrupt the support provided to children and young people during wellbeing and education recovery. Through the service, the LA would meet statutory duties to support children and young people through good quality provision, and continuity of service for children and young people in targeted vulnerable groups would be provided.
Alternative options considered:
Officers considered a tender process but recommend a direct award for the reasons set out above. It is not considered cost effective to carry out a tender for a 12 month contract. A tender exercise is planned for a longer-term contract from October 2022.
The Lead Member for Children’s Safeguarding, Early Help and Social Care has provided a waiver to the need to tender for the service.
Cabinet/Committee Decision or Scheme of Delegation: Delegated Authority
Parties Consulted: The Lead Member for Children's Safeguarding, Early Help and Social Care has been consulted on and supports the approach of the decision. A range of internal and external stakeholders, including young people through Brent Young People Thrive, has helped inform the development of the service.
Contact: Brian Grady, Operational Director, Safeguarding, Partnerships & Strategy Email: Brian.Grady@brent.gov.uk Tel: 0208 937 4173, Shirley Parks, Director - Safeguarding, Partnerships and Strategy Email: Shirley.Parks@brent.gov.uk Tel: 020 8937 4529.
Publication date: 08/09/2021
Date of decision: 02/07/2021