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RESOLVED: That
Cabinet;
1.    
Approved the procurement of the statutory advocacy
contract in accordance with the Contract Procedure
Rules.
2.    
Approved a proposed contract term of 3 years with an
option to extend by up to 2 years resulting in a maximum contract
length of 5 years (3+1+1).
3.    
Granted delegated authority to the Director of Adult
Social Care (DASS) in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer
(S151) and the Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health &
Regulatory Services to take any further decisions to conclude this
procurement and award the contract.
 
REASONS RESOLVED:

a.    
To comply with the requirement to provide the
independent statutory advocacy set out in the respective Acts
listed.

b.    
To offer a length of contract that would support a
provider to increase the number of advocates as required, for the
proposed changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 as the changes come
into effect. The exact implementation date is not yet known but it
is anticipated that the first changes will be implemented during
2027. Both commissioners and the Local Government Association
(LGA), feel that the IMHA changes will be implemented in the first
wave of the planned changes, that could take a few years to
implement.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
If the Bill is not amended, it
will introduce an opt out of, rather than opt in model for IMHAs on
qualifying sections and well as opt-in for any qualifying informal
English patient, dramatically increasing the demand.