Decision details

To seek permission to enter into a new Section 75 Agreement with CPFT for delivery of School Nursing services, at the value of £759,000 per annum for one year from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

The Section 75 Agreement will provide value for money and lead to an improvement in the ways in which this function is exercised, based on the timeframe of the agreement. A previous agreement has been in effect since 1st April 2016 and a renewal of this agreement is required for a further financial year to align with completion of the 0-19 Health Child Programme procurement exercise, which has been identified as the long term procurement strategy for this service.

The School Nursing service forms part of the Healthy Child Programme 0-19, which is a framework designed to support collaborative working across health and Council led services and strengthen the integrated approach to service delivery.

The framework, through the provision of School Nursing services, aims to:

·         Help parents develop and sustain and strong bond with their children

·         Encourage care that keeps children healthy and safe

·         Protect children from serious disease through screening and immunisation

·         Reduce childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity

·         Identify health issues early so that support can be offered in a timely manner

·         Ensure children are prepared for, and supported in education settings

·         Identify and help children, young people, and families with problems that may affect their ability to thrive in later life

·         Improve educational achievement by improving the wellbeing of young people

The Council will retain responsibility for the function of the service outlined in this report; the scope of activities performed have a clearly and mutually defined by partners, together with provision for robust management and monitoring of the service.

To do nothing.  - However this was rejected on grounds that it is the Council’s statutory responsibility for the provision of this service, following the transfer of Public Health functions to the Local Authority under the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

Undertake a competitive procurement exercise. - This was dismissed due to the long term procurement strategy for this provision, whereby School Nursing services will be included in the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme. The procurement process for this tendering exercise is due for completion by 31st March 2019, therefore it would be disadvantageous and not represent value for money to conduct a procurement exercise for this function alone at this time.

None.

Crown Court. 2012. Health and Social Care Act 2012. Accessible online at; http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/pdfs/ukpga_20120007_en.pdf  - accessed 06.11.2017

Crown Court. 2006. National Health Service Act 2006. Accessible online at; https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/41/pdfs/ukpga_20060041_en.pdf  - accessed 06.11.2017

Crown Court. 1998. Human Rights Act 1998. Accessible online at; https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/pdfs/ukpga_19980042_en.pdf -  accessed 06.11.2017

Department for Communities & Local Government. 2011. Localism Act 2011. Accessible online at;  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/pdfs/ukpga_20110020_en.pdf  - accessed 06.11.2017

Department of Health, & Department for Children, Schools and Families. 2009. Healthy Child Programme: From 5 to 19 years old. Accessible online at; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492086/HCP_5_to_19.pdf -  accessed 06.11.2017