Purpose

Proposed Decision:
 

a)   
APPROVE the
development of Parent Infant Mental Health
Service for a period of 31 months and subject to evaluation and availability of funds from the Public
Health Grant an extension for a further 24 months

b)  
APPROVE the
expenditure£2,059,928 via the
Family Hub Grant initially and then the Public
Health Grant

c)   
DELEGATE authority to
the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to exercise
relevant contract extensions and enter into relevant contracts or
legal agreements; and

 

d)  
DELEGATE authority to
the Director of Public Health, to take other necessary actions,
including but not limited to allocating resources, expenditure, and
entering into contracts and other legal agreements, as required to
implement the decision
 

 
Background:
 
On 4
October 2022 the Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s
Services took an executive decision (Decision number 22/00094) to
adopt the principle of Kent becoming a?Family Hub Transformation
Authority.
 
On 19
July 2024 a further decision 23/00075 by the Cabinet Member for
Adult Social Care and Public Health was taken to:
 

APPROVE the development
and improvement activity to deliver Perinatal Mental Health and
Parent Infant Relationships Interventions

 

APPROVE the required
expenditure, via the Family Hub Grant Funding (£3,051,809
– expires 2025) and, subject to evaluation and availability
of funds the Public Health Grant (post March 2025), to deliver and
sustain this activity for up to two years beyond the Family Hub
Grant period – total service period – 2023 – 2025
with the potential for two x 1-year extensions;

DELEGATE authority to
the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, to exercise
relevant contract extensions and enter into relevant contracts or
legal agreements; and

DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health, to take
other necessary actions, including but not limited to allocating
resources, expenditure, and entering into contracts and other legal
agreements, as required to implement the decision.
 
Decision:
 
A new decision is
being sought to extend the delivery of the Parent Infant Mental
Health Service beyond the original timescale set out in the
previous Key Decision (with the contract ending in March 2027) and
extending delivery until 31st March 2030 (a total
contract length, including exercising the 24-month
extension).
 

Reason for Decision:

 
Two
procurements were previously undertaken for a Parent Infant Mental
Health Service Key Decision 23/00075. These
did not successfully result in the award of a
provider and contract. One in January 24 and the second in August
2024. Feedback from the market is that the opportunity needed
longer timescales to mobilise the service.
 
Key
Decision 23/00075 approved a contract to be in place until March
2027. A new decision is needed to reflect
amended timeframes for delivery.

 
A
further PSR (Provider Selection Regime) compliant procurement
process is proposed, taking into account feedback from
suppliers.
 

How the proposed decision meets the priorities of
New Models of Care and Support as set out in ‘‘Framing
Kent’s Future – Our Council Strategy 2022 –
2026’’
 
This
service will contribute to ‘Priority 1: Levelling up
Kent’ of the Framing Kent’s Future Our Council Strategy
2022-2026’ as providing additional support for families at
the start of their infant’s life which is a preventative
approach to improve the populations health and narrowing health
inequalities.
 

How the proposed decision supports Securing
Kent’s Future
 
The
Parent Infant Mental Health Service supports the Council to achieve
the priorities set out in Securing Kent’s Future, by
embedding a preventative approach and ensuring children get the
best start in life and better outcomes in adult life, leading to
reduced demand and costs in Health and Social Care.
 

 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Adult
Social care and Public Health in consultation with Cabinet Member
for Integrated Children’s Services, I propose to:
 
a)   
APPROVE the development of Parent Infant Mental
Health Service for a period of 31 months and subject to evaluation
and availability of funds from the Public Health Grant an extension
for a further 24 months
 
b)   
APPROVE the expenditure £2,059,928 funded via
the Family Hub Grant initially and then the Public Health
Grant

c)   
DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health,
in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and
Public Health, to exercise relevant contract extensions and enter
into relevant contracts or legal agreements; and

d)   
DELEGATE authority to the Director of Public Health,
to take other necessary actions, including but not limited to
allocating resources, expenditure, and entering into contracts and
other legal agreements, as required to implement the
decision.