Issue - meetings

A report seeking support to extend the agreement with Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board for the provision of Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services and consider undertaking a recommissioning of the service, joint or otherwise.

Councillor Sue Markham, Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, introduced the report which requested approval to extend the current Section 75 agreement with Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board for the provision of Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services (known locally as Rise) for a further period of up to two-years from 1 August 2024.

Councillor Markham provided an overview of the service and explained the reasons for requesting an extension.  She advised that a joint review of the current arrangements was underway, with both the contract and Section 75 agreement due to expire at the end of July 2024.  Councillor Markham concluded by signposting Members to the two options being considered as detailed at paragraph 3.6 of the report.

Councillor John Holland noted that a number of complaints were being considered relating to this area of work and requested that the independent inquiry be completed as a matter of urgency.  He also referred to the Complaints Procedure which was due to be considered later in the agenda.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse felt this was an extremely important report and welcomed the extension as proposed to allow a level footing for the service whilst it progressed through the relevant process.  He queried the timescales and how closely scrutiny would get involved, as he felt that was a role for elected Members to play.

In response, Councillor Izzy Seccombe agreed to discuss this with Councillor Roodhouse in his capacity as Vice-Chair of the relevant scrutiny Committee.  She reiterated the importance of having a provision that worked well for the Council, highlighting the benefit that early intervention and support for young people could have.

Councillor Markham assured that this would be an in-depth process and proposed the recommendations as laid out.

Resolved

That Cabinet

1)    Supports the extension of the existing Section 75 agreement with Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board for the provision of Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services (known locally as Rise) for a further period of up to two-years from 1 August 2024, to facilitate re- commissioning of the Rise service; and

Authorises the Executive Director for Social Care and Health in consultation with the Executive Director for Children and Young People and the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families to finalise the service delivery model, to undertake a re-commissioning (joint or otherwise) of the service and to enter into such agreements for the provision of Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services as she considers necessary on terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director for Resources.