Agenda item

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Director of Public Health, which sought approval of an option to extend the contract for the provision of an integrated substance misuse service to Turning Point Services Ltd until 31^st March 2023. On 22^nd June 2021 Cabinet extended the contract for 1 year until 31^st March 2022.

The contract was a collaborative commission with Rochdale Council. An Inter-Authority Collaboration Agreement has been signed by both Councils which agrees that Oldham Council is the lead contract authority. Rochdale Council has given delegated authority for Oldham Council to extend the contract on its behalf.

Option 1 - At contract completion on the 31^st March 2022, the service is discontinued with no provision to Oldham residents for substance misuse treatment and recovery.

This was not a viable option as this would mean that specialist substance misuse support is not available to the borough’s residents and we would not meet our obligations under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This could also have an adverse impact on commissioning plans and service delivery in Rochdale. 

Option 2 - Proceed to market for a full tender process for a new service to be in place by 1st April 2022.

Due to the unforeseen and unprecedented situation as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not tenable to complete a full tender process this financial year due to restricted capacity from both commissioners and the substance misuse providers.  A tendering exercise would potentially destabilise the system and disrupt service provision for those already accessing the service, at a time when there are already considerable changes to service delivery due to guidance issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was also provision within the current contract for an extension of 1 more year and there are no performance issues with the current provider that would prompt the need to commence to an open tendering process at this time.

Option 3 - Approve the extension of the Adult Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Service for a period of one year from 1^st April 2022 to 31^st March 2023.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The extension of the contract with Turning Point Services Ltd for a further one year commencing 1^st April 2022 until 31^st March 2023 be approved.

2.    A contract variation be agreed to allow Turning Point Services Ltd to deliver services in relation to Section 31 local authority grant for additional drug treatment crime and harm reduction activity and the delivery of an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment programme for clients in community drug and alcohol treatment.

3.    A further contract variation be agreed to allow Turning Point Services Ltd to deliver services in relation to Section 31 Rough sleeping drug and alcohol treatment grant (RSDATG) for Oldham Borough. Please note that at the time of writing we are awaiting formal confirmation from PHE in relation to this grant. However so as not to delay the pass through of the funding to providers, the paper has been written with the assumption that we will receive the full allocation requested.