Purpose

On 21 September 2022 Cabinet
a.Approved the recommendation from the option appraisal for
Staffordshire County Council (SCC) to enter into a s.75 Partnership
Agreement (s.75 Agreement) with the Midlands Partnership (NHS)
Foundation Trust (MPFT) for the provision of the Families’
Health & Wellbeing (0-19) Service (following subsequent
discussions / agreement with the provider)
b.Approved the recommendation that the Director of Children &
Families Services is given delegated authority to negotiate the
detailed terms of the necessary s.75 Agreement with MPFT pursuant
to recommendation a. and thereafter, having consulted with the
Cabinet Member for Children & Young People and the Director of
Health & Care:
i.To enter into the said s.75 Agreement with MPFT; and
ii.To delegate the relevant functions to MPFT to the extent
necessary to enable MPFT to discharge its obligations under that
Agreement, within the financial envelope noted in the financial
section / schedule of that Agreement.

Content

The contract for the Families Health &
Wellbeing (0-19) service with the current provider, the Midlands
Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPUFT), expires on
30th September 2024 following a 6 month contract extension.
Following a Cabinet decision on 21 September 2022, Cabinet approved
several recommendations including the recommendation for the
Council to enter into a s.75 Partnership Agreement with the current
provider, MPUFT, for the Families Health & Wellbeing (0-19)
service.
The rationale for entering into a s.75 Agreement included:
a.A longer-term partnership agreement will better enable both
parties to continue to work together to improve the commissioning
& delivery of these services.
b.More stability and continuity for service staff, the service and
ultimately for families; leading to better outcomes for children
& young people within Staffordshire.
c.SCC already have substantial experience of working with NHS
bodies as part of a s.75 Agreement
The s.75 Partnership Agreement is proposed to expire on 31 March
2030.

Alternative options considered

A range of options were considered and
included in the 21 September 2022 Cabinet paper as follows:
-Providing the service in-house i.e., the Council delivering /
providing the service
-Procuring the service via a competitive tender process
-Providing the service via a s.75 Partnership Agreement between the
Council and MPUFT.