The Executive Directors have decided to award the contract for the Knowsley 0 – 19(25) Healthy Child Service to Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust.

URL: https://councillors.knowsley.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=8306

Decision Maker: Executive Director Resources & Partnerships (Stephan Van Arendsen) & Executive Director Health and Adult Social Care (Jenny Rollinson)

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The purpose of the report, in accordance with regulations 6(6) and 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 is to:   (i)       identify the most suitable provider for the delivery of the Knowsley 0 – 19(25) Healthy Child Service; and   (ii)      seek approval to issue a notice of intention to award that contract, and, subject to the decision not being called-in and the standstill period concluding without an unresolved challenge, for that contract to be awarded.   The justification for this decision, as required by relevant regulations, is that the Council is satisfied that:   •              Direct award processes A or B cannot be applied to this service. •              Direct award process C or the Competitive process would also not be appropriate for this service, in the circumstances.   A compliant Most Suitable Provider process has therefore been conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations and approval of its outcome is now being sought.  

Content: The purpose of the report, in accordance with regulations 6(6) and 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 is to:   (i)       identify the most suitable provider for the delivery of the Knowsley 0 – 19(25) Healthy Child Service; and   (ii)      seek approval to issue a notice of intention to award that contract, and, subject to the decision not being called-in and the standstill period concluding without an unresolved challenge, for that contract to be awarded.   The justification for this decision, as required by relevant regulations, is that the Council is satisfied that:   •              Direct award processes A or B cannot be applied to this service. •              Direct award process C or the Competitive process would also not be appropriate for this service, in the circumstances.   A compliant Most Suitable Provider process has therefore been conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations and approval of its outcome is now being sought.   The Director (Corporate Support) and the Executive Director (Health and Adult Social Care) agreed:-   (i)           That, in accordance with regulations 6(6) and 10 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023:   (a)        Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust be identified as the Most Suitable Provider for the provision of the Knowsley 0 – 19(25) Healthy Child Service ;   (b)        Subject to this decision not being called-in within three working days of being published, an Intent to Award Notice, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be issued for publication on the UK e-notification service, indicating the Council’s proposed award of the contract to Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, for the period 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2032 with the option to extend the contract up to a maximum of three 12 month periods (until 31 January 2035); and   (ii)  That, subject to the subsequent standstill period concluding without an unresolved challenge, the contract be awarded, and the Procurement Team authorised to issue the relevant contract award documentation, including publishing a contract award notice, based on the information already set out in the draft intent to award notice (Appendix A) on the UK e-notification service.    Do Nothing: This option was rejected because the Council has a legal obligation and a statutory public health duty to commission or provide the Healthy Child Programme, as many elements of the programme are mandated services, including the universal health visiting service, five health and development reviews (antenatal, new birth, 6-8-week, 9-12 month and 2-2 ½ years), and the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). A lack of services could lead to harm or missed safeguarding risks. It is therefore essential that there is a 0-19(25) Healthy Child Service in place.   Deliver in house: This option was considered and rejected because the 0-19(25) Healthy Child Service is a highly specialist service, providing clinical support to residents. The Council does not have the clinical infrastructure or governance to ensure compliance with healthcare standards at this time. There are also national shortages of both health visitors and school nurses, and the Council may struggle to recruit and align with NHS pay structures.       Alternative Provider Selection Regime Processes: Direct Award Process A – This was rejected as the existing providers are not the only providers that can deliver the services.   Direct Award Process B – This was rejected as patients are not offered a choice of provider and team when accessing these services within the Borough, and the number of providers is restricted by the Council.   Direct Award Process C - This was rejected as there have been considerable changes to the specification / contracting value since the current contract was awarded.   Competitive Process -A competitive process is time-consuming and could risk a gap in service provision. The 0-19(25) Healthy Child Service is a highly specialist service, providing clinical support to residents. Many private providersdo not have the clinical infrastructure or governance to ensure compliance with healthcare standards. There are also national shortages of both health visitors and school nurses; non-NHS Trusts may struggle to recruit and align with NHS pay structures.  

Date of Decision: August 7, 2026