Decision details

1.    Notes that Exempt Appendices 1 to 4 are not for publication on the basis that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.    Approves the award of a contract to Turning Point for the delivery of a Young People’s Integrated Substance Misuse and Sexual Health (ISMASH) Service, for an initial three-year period from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2026. This will include the option to extend for a further two periods of two years each (up to seven years in total). The value of the initial three-year term is £600,000. Rising to a maximum of £1,400,000 should all options to extend the contract be taken up.

1.          Sexual health issues are linked to alcohol and substance misuse. Earlier alcohol use is associated with early onset of sexual activity and is a marker of later sexual risk-taking, including lack of condom use.

2.          As Turning Point  is the incumbent provider, the Council have evidence of good past performance of this service, in relation to key performance indicators within the service specification, in comparison to similar services in other boroughs, and contribution to broader public health outcomes. Data to evidence this are available in Exempt Appendix 4.

3.          Compared to the previous specification for this service, the new contract with Turning Point will:

·       provide better integration with the new Family Hubs in the borough, especially through Turning Point’s co-location in these settings, once established. This service will be integral to future success of the Family Hubs.

·       have a greater emphasis on online and social media outreach, to provide another access option for young people who might not be physically engaging with services—which was something requested by young people during consultation.

·       provide greater support for parents and carers of young people engaged in the service, including the possibility for them to refer. 

Please refer to the report for more details.

1.          Do Nothing – Not possible. This would mean that when the current contracts expire, the service would cease to exist. This service is funded through the ringfenced Public Health Grant, and it is a condition of the Public Health Grant that local authorities provide specialist drug and alcohol services such as these.

2.          Re-tender the contract – Not recommended. Whilst only 1 bid was received, this bid was strong and within budget. The single bidder is the incumbent supplier who has provided the service to the desired standard over the period of the previous contract. There were 13 other providers who initially expressed interest in the opportunity all of whom declined to bid. It is therefore very unlikely that re-tendering the service would create any greater interest with most likely the same outcome. To allow a further chance to tender for the service, we would require a non-compliant extension of the current contract.