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.