URL: https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5896

Decision Maker: Director of Children, Families and Education

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The purpose of this report it to make recommendations to the Director of Children, Family and Education Services regarding the proposals to allocate funding to the Branch Alliance. This would involve varying the existing contract (commissioned via the Wirral Place Integrated Care Board) to allow for the provision of additional targeted emotional wellbeing support for Children Looked After (CLA) in Wirral.   The PDF file in the appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact [email protected]  if you would like this document in an accessible format.  

Content: The purpose of this report it to make recommendations to the Director of Children, Family and Education Services regarding the proposals to allocate funding to the Branch Alliance. This would involve varying the existing contract (commissioned via the Wirral Place Integrated Care Board) to allow for the provision of additional targeted emotional wellbeing support for Children Looked After (CLA) in Wirral.   The PDF file in the appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact [email protected]  if you would like this document in an accessible format.   That the following be agreed:   The variation of the terms of the proposed agreement pursuant to section 75 agreement of the National Health Service Act 2006 between the Council and the Wirral Place Integrated Care Board (ICB) to enable an increase in the agreed costs in the sum of an additional £113,737 per annum for the proposed 6-year term.   The variation of the Contract between Wirral Place Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the Branch Alliance organisations listed in paragraph 3.6 of this report to include additional targeted and trauma informed services to support the distinct emotional wellbeing needs of Children Looked After in Wirral at a cost to the Council of £113,737 per annum for the remainder of the contract period of up to 6 years. 1.1  As of October 2024, Wirral has 745 Children Looked After (CLA) and approximately 350 children who are subject to Special Guardianship Orders. 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    1.2  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.”   1.3  Children in care are four times more likely than their peers to have a mental health difficulty due to their experiences both before and during care.  There is a requirement to work with local partners to ensure CLA are provided a dedicated arena in which they are offered ongoing support to develop positive attachments with others, to develop a sense of their own identity, and to build resilience skills that will support them into adulthood.   1.4  The existing contract for the provision of relationship based emotional health and well-being support for CLA ends on 31st March 2025 and it is necessary to make alternative arrangements for this service.    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 Mental Health Professionals.

Date of Decision: December 23, 2024