Purpose

This report sets out a proposed approach to the commissioning of a clinical psychology service to design and develop best start healthy babies services and deliver interventions to support parent infant relationships and perinatal mental health.
 

The Service will provide a senior psychologist to lead the project and clinical psychologists to provide interventions and support the work streams. These include designing Best Start for Baby (Camden’s enhanced health child programme), delivering interventions to support parents’ wellbeing, workforce development, co-design with families and evaluation.

Officers are proposing to follow the Most Suitable Provider process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR 2023). Officers are proposing to award a contract to Most Suitable Provider for a period of 33 months, from 1st July 2026 until 31st March 2029 for a total cost of up to £1,533,063.
 

Following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children & Families, this report will be submitted to the Executive Director Children and Learning in line with Contract Standing Orders which state that an Executive Director following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member must agree procurement strategies for contracts with a value £1million to £2million (CSO C4.1).

Decision

THAT the Executive Director Children and Learning, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children & Families, approves the procurement strategy for the Best Start Family Service, and contract term of 33 months for an estimated aggregate value of £1,533,063.