Agenda item

Report of Director of Public Health

Councillor Williams, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health, and Bobby Lowen, Commissioning Lead, presented the report, which detailed a successful bid for funding from Public Health England under the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant scheme and the delivery of a range of additional activity designed to help improve engagement in, and outcomes from, drug and alcohol treatment services for people sleeping rough and those who are at risk of sleeping rough.

In response to a question regarding whether local contractors would be engaged, Mr Lowen stated that they would where possible, but it would depend on the outcome of tenders.

Resolved to approve the:

(1)  receipt of funding up to a total of £1,016,042 from Public Health England for the delivery of a range of additional drug and alcohol treatment activity for people sleeping rough and those at risk of sleeping rough;

(2)  expenditure of up to £370,056 for the delivery of this activity in 2021/22 and a further £645,986 for activity in 2022/23 (up to a maximum total expenditure of £1,016,042), subject to the receipt of funding allocated by Public Health England;

(3)  variation to the existing contract for the provision of the Substance Misuse Treatment service, as detailed in table 1 of appendix 1 to the report, in accordance with Article 18.99 of the Contract Procedure Rules;

(4)  expenditure to establish an internal post to contract manage the delivery of activity commissioned through the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant, as detailed in table 2 of appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons for recommendations

1.  Approval to take receipt of and utilise funding awarded to Nottingham by Public Health England (PHE) through the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Grant is sought to allow for a range of new interventions to be delivered to people sleeping rough in Nottingham (and those who are at risk).

2.  Rough sleepers often face additional barriers to access to engagement in drug and alcohol treatment (due to a combination of factors including poor mental health, their ability to attend appointments, etc). In addition, people sleeping rough are often less able to engage with other forms of support in order to help them to move back into accommodation while they are experiencing substance misuse. The delivery of the activity funded through the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant will provide additional measures integrated within existing drug and alcohol treatment services (e.g. to support access and sustainment) in order to address these barriers.

3.  Approval to vary the main contract for the existing drug and alcohol treatment system in Nottingham has been sought in order to ensure that the new measures are fully integrated into the main treatment options in order to serve as effective interventions. The delivery of this activity will also build on the infrastructure provided through the existing service, avoiding costs incurred through duplication of this activity in order to secure value for money. The existing service is contract managed and has been assessed as performing well. The variation of existing contracts will also allow for the immediate mobilisation of the programme in order to maximise the use of funds awarded by PHE.

Other options considered

1.  Not to take receipt of the funding awarded by PHE through the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Grant. This option is not recommended on the basis that to not take receipt of the funding will lose the opportunity to assist more people to recover from drug and alcohol use and to move towards settled accommodation.

2.  To procure activity for delivery through a competitive tender. This option is not recommended on the basis that activity to be funded is to be integrated within existing provision in order to improve outcomes for rough sleepers. The existing service has been assessed as performing well, and delivery of the additional activity funded through the RSDATG under the infrastructure of the existing service will offer value for money by avoiding duplication of these arrangements (e.g. management). The variation of existing contracts will also allow for the immediate mobilisation of the programme in order to maximise the use of funds awarded by PHE.