Issue - meetings

Report CS17065

Following the decision in February 2016 not to re-procure the current School Nursing service from April 2017, a detailed assessment of needs for school age children in the borough was undertaken with some risk areas identified. An executive summary of the needs assessment was appended to Report CS17065.

In response to the assessment, two new services were proposed for commissioning - a health safeguarding function for school age children (including targeted safeguarding of vulnerable groups) and a new nurse led team to provide strategic health support and training to schools. It was proposed start the new services, with an estimated contract value of £606k FYE (£303 k in 2017/18 and £303k in 2018/19), from 1^st April 2017. Under the current contract to March 2017, school nursing expenditure comprised an annual sum of £957k.

With the new services designed to address health needs of school age children for whom the Council and Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) had joint responsibility, it was proposed to fund development of the Strategic Health Team and Safeguarding Nursing Support from the Better Care Fund for a period of up to two years. The new model would be evaluated in year one to assess its effectiveness and value to schools and discussions would be held with schools during 2017/18 to establish a sustainable funding model.

Pending evaluation and proposals for future service and funding, agreement was sought to draw-down the first year of funding (£303k) from the Better Care Fund at this point and any funding required for 2018/19 would be subject to a further report to Executive based on the first year evaluation. The BCCG supported the proposal.

Members supported the recommendations and RESOLVED that:

(1) the services be funded for a period of up to two years from the Better Care Fund up to a maximum of £606k; and

(2)  draw-down of the funding for 2017/18 from the Better Care Fund be agreed with any funding required for 2018/19 being subject to a further report to the Executive.