Purpose

This report recommends
acceptance of a tender from ABL Health Ltd and award of a Contract
for the delivery of bespoke and targeted Therapeutic Support
Services for Children Looked After (CLA) in Wirral.  The Contract will run from 1 November 2025 until
31 October 2027 with extension options for a period of up to 4
years with a maximum contract value of £1,320,000.  The annual
contract value is £220,000 this is within the current annual
budget.

Decision

The Director of
Children Family and Education Services has approved the award of a
Contract to ABL Health Ltd for the delivery of bespoke and targeted
therapeutic support services for children looked after in Wirral
with an initial term of 2 years commencing 1st November
2025 until  31st October 2027
with extension options for a period of up to 4 years with
a  maximum contract value of
£1,320,000 as the highest scoring tenderer
based upon the most advantageous tenderer criteria.
 

Reasons for the decision

The tender from ABL
Health Ltd represents the most advantageous tender received, is
fully compliant and is within allocated budgetary
provision. 
 
The corporate
parenting responsibilities of the Council includes having a duty
under section 22(3)(a) of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and
promote the welfare of the children it looks after.  This includes the child’s physical,
emotional, and mental health and acting on any early signs of
health issues 
 
The Council’s
Children Looked After and Care Leavers Strategy 22-25 identifies
emotional and physical health and wellbeing as a priority:
 
“Priority 1 -
Emotional and Physical health, and wellbeing – Making sure
you are happy and healthy all the way through your childhood and
into adulthood.  Enabling you to build
positive relationships, strengthen your sense of identity and
understand your life experiences.”
 
The existing Contract
for the provision for Therapeutic Mental Health Support for
Children Looked After ends on 31st October 2025 and it
is necessary to recommission this service.
 

Alternative options considered

A proposal to replace
the current contracts with a blend of in-house provision alongside
a significantly reduced tender for some aspects of the
service.  This option was explored;
however, this was deemed too costly and there were concerns around
the challenges of recruiting a suitably qualified clinical
psychologist.