Agenda item

This report seeks approval to the direct award of a contract in respect of the Children’s Public Health Services (0-19 years), Health Visiting and School Nursing, which also includes the child weight management service for children aged 0-5 years.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the direct award of a contract under the Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process C to Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust for the provision of the Children’s Public Health Services (0-19 years) Health Visiting and School Nursing for 23 months commencing 1 May 2026 to 31^st March 2028.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 March 2026

Councillor Nerva (as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Service Reform and Strategy seeking approval to the direct award of a contract for Brent's Children's Public Health Services (0-19 years), including health visiting, school nursing, the nationally mandated Healthy Child Programme and the child weight management service for children aged 0-5 years.

In introducing the report, Councillor Nerva highlighted the importance of the service as a vital early intervention and prevention offer supporting families from pregnancy through the school years delivered through Family Wellbeing Centres covering health visiting, school nursing, the nationally mandated Healthy Child Programme, plus locally specified services.  In terms of the recommended award of contract, members were advised the proposal involved a direct award to Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, as the existing provider, with members advised of their strong and improved performance based on the scale of service provided across Brent, where it was noted that around 3,500 babies were born each year and child health review contact rates up to age five reflected significant improvement between 90% and 98%.  The scale of this reach was identified as important in terms of identifying issues at an early stage and in supporting the continued provision of targeted care.

In support of the approach outlined, members were also advised of the targeted work undertaken by the service in seeking to tackle inequalities.  Alongside the universal offer, this included targeted programmes for families facing the greatest challenges such as the MECSH (Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting) programme, which provided sustained home visiting for mothers and babies designed to improve school readiness and child development with Brent recognised as one of only two local authorities in the UK delivering the Infant 2 School pathway.

In recognising the way in which the award of contract would also provide time to review the service in light of wider changes within the NHS and neighbourhood working arrangements, the opportunity was also taken to thank officers and Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust for their work in support of ongoing delivery of the service and commitment towards the procurement process.

In support of the approach outlined, members were keen to recognise the crucial nature of the service being provided and role of health visitors and school nursing given the diverse needs of individuals, families and communities and as part of the wider public health approach towards tackling health inequalities and in ensuring children had the best chance to thrive and parents were also provided with the support needed.  In acknowledging the enhanced level of performance identified, support was also expressed for the new pathway identified in relation to hearing screening for those children born outside the UK alongside any child developing a hearing problem and work to support children and their families placed in temporary accommodation.

Having noted the utilisation of ring fenced funding to support the service provided through the Public Health Grant and way in which the service contributed towards delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the direct award of a contract under the Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process C to Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust for the provision of the Children’s Public Health Services (0-19 years) Health Visiting and School Nursing for 23 months commencing 1 May 2026 to 31^st March 2028.