Health and social work services

Tender description

Cumbria County Council have commissioned adult substance misuse treatment and recovery services from Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH) since April 2013 when responsibility for public health was transferred to local authority. In line with the health and social care Act 2012. The local authority are expected to: — have regard to the need to improve the uptake and outcomes from drug and alcohol services. The authority must exercise a number of health service functions set out in section 2B of the NHS Act 2006 and the local authorities (public health functions and entry to premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations. In order to satisfy these obligations the authority wishes to secure the provision of the services and the provider wishes to provide the services. Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Council is of the view that the conditions of regulation 12 (7) are fulfilled and that the procurement therefore falls outside the scope of application of the directive as it establishes or implements co-operation between two contracting authorities. Condition 1: the contract establishes or implements a co-operation between the participating contracting authorities with the aim of ensuring that public services they have to perform are provided with a view to achieving objectives they have in common. Cumbria County Council (Council) and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), both of which are contracting authorities, have common objectives under the: • Children Acts 1989 and 2004 Acts [Safeguarding Children, LSCBs]; • Health and Social Care 2012 Act [Public Health duty, Health and Wellbeing Boards, integration of Health and Social care, Foundation Trusts]; • National Health Service 2006 (Section 2B) and 2012 Acts. These common objectives are further evidenced by joint membership of the Cumbria Crisis Care Concordat, Cumbria Strategic Housing, Health and Wellbeing Group and Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board. The shared priorities and outcomes to achieve improved health in Cumbria are outlined in the Cumbria Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019 to 2029. Condition 2: The implementation of that co-operation is governed solely by considerations relating to the public interest. Nature of the service: the contract requires that alcohol and substance misuse, abuse and addiction treatment and recovery services are provided free of charge to those self-referring or being referred to the service. The service provided aids in the protection and improvement of their health and wellbeing required by the common objectives stated above. The provision of free health services commissioned by the Council and provided by GMMH are in the public’s interest. Continuity of service: GMMH is the current provider of the substance misuse service. By awarding the contract to GMMH risks, such as reduction in performance, associated with transitioning a contract to a new provider are avoided and sub contracted services are sustained. This protects the public from a potential reduction of services that prevent drug or alcohol related deaths. Best value: the Council are satisfied that GMMH through its management of Public Funds is, and will continue, to provide best value in the provision of the required services. GMMH’s Substance misuse services were rated as outstanding, at their most recent inspection, by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2018. As noted in paragraph 9 and 10 above the cost per head of population and spend per client are noticeably lower than neighbouring local authorities, regional and national averages demonstrating economic use of public funds. The contract ensures the public continue to receive a service that provides best value. Condition 3: the participating contracting authorities perform, on the open market less than 20 % of the activities concerned by the operation. The Council does not provide any of the services listed in the contract. GMMH’s Total Income over the last 3 financial years (2016-2019) averaged GBP 271.4 million. The Annual Financial value of the contract is GBP 4.1 million which based on average total income over a 3-year period is 1.5 % of Total income. GMMH confirm that they do not receive an income of 20 % or more, from the open market, for alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services. GMMH total income: 2016/17 = GBP 201.6 million; 2017/18 = GBP 293.3 million; 2018/19 = GBP 319.3 million — average GBP 271.4 million.