Decision Reference Number: WPCC3-0138
Lead Officer: Sara Ansell, Treasurer
Chief Officer approval: N/A
Date: 18th April 2024
Status: Non-confidential
Decision summary:
The contract with G4S for the provision of Adult SARC services covering the West Midlands was due to expire on the 31st March 2024, but has been extended until the 30th April 2024, to provide enough time for the full transition and mobilisation of services to the new provider Mountain Healthcare. Previous decision notices outline the commissioning process that has been adopted over the last twelve months. This decision notice seeks formal approval for the co-commissioning agreement between all partners. The co-commissioning agreement constitutes a collaboration agreement, and outlines the arrangements between partners regarding the contract and service delivery.
I confirm that my register of interests declaration is up to date and that none of my interests preclude me from making this decision.
Signature: P.Seccombe
Date: 24.04.2024
Supporting information
1. Background information
The Adult Sexual Assault Referral Service (ASARS) has been co-commissioned by NHS England, West Midlands OPCC, West Mercia OPCC, Staffordshire OFPCC, and Warwickshire OPCC. NHS England led and coordinated the commissioning process, but each partner was fully engaged and played an active role in the commissioning process. The incumbent service provider is G4S who have operated the Warwickshire service from the Blue Sky Centre based at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton since 2018. The contract was due to end on the 31st March 2024, but has been extended by 1 month and will now terminate on the 30th April 2024, which should facilitate a smooth transition to the new provider Mountain Healthcare. As a result of this extension, it has been agreed that the Mountain Healthcare contract term will also slip, to the 30th April 2032, rather than the 31st March 2032 as previously planned.
All partners have been actively involved in the commissioning process, from the initial work to prepare all the tender documentation, through to the final mobilisation of the contract. As lead commissioner, NHS England have prepared the Co-commissioning agreement attached to this decision notice, which constitutes a S22 collaboration agreement which sets out the responsibilities and arrangements for all the partners and covers all aspect of the contract and service.
2. List of additional information attached as appendices
The Co-commissioning agreement
3. Expected benefits
The achievement of an Adult SARC service that is fully compliant with the FSR requirements for UCAS ISO accreditation by October 2025, and ensures that services are provided across Warwickshire. The co-commissioning agreement will provide a source of reference and outline the responsibilities on a variety of issues relating to the operation of the contract, and the interactions between partners.
4. Impact of not approving the application
Warwickshire would have to commission these services independently and would be unlikely to reap the benefits that a jointly commissioned service will bring.
5. Costs (including any identified savings)
The contract costs are clearly outlined in Schedule 6 of the co-commissioning document. These costs exclude the inflationary cost uplift for 2024/25.
Other building and running costs for the Blue Sky Centre will be incurred. These are in line with the Heads of terms and lease agreements that are in place or being finalised with other partners.
The contract costs are clearly outlined in Schedule 6 of the co-commissioning document. These costs exclude the inflationary cost uplift for 2024/25.
Other building and running costs for the Blue Sky Centre will be incurred. These are in line with the Heads of terms and lease agreements that are in place or being finalised with other partners.
The costs of achieving forensic service regulation compliance are the responsibility of the PCC/Force, and adequate capital financing of these will need to be separately identified.
The costs for the provision of the Adult SARC contracted services are currently included in the 2024/25 budget. All other costs are yet to be fully confirmed and are subject to further due diligence work. Appropriate financing for them will need to be identified from within existing budgets or from alternative financing or reserves.
6. Equality considerations
The joint co-commissioning process has provided for the continuation and development of adult SARC services for all people in Warwickshire, irrespective of their protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
7. Legal comments
NHS England are the lead commissioner, and ran a compliant procurement process from the provision of Adult sexual assault referral services, which has been awarded to Mountain Healthcare.
Legal advice has been sought on the terms and contents of the co-commissioning agreement. Whilst some issues regarding the legal arrangements for the Blue Sky Centre are still being finalised, and this does involve other partners, in the interests of collaborative working the document is considered to be suitable for signature.
8. Social or Environmental considerations
The Blue Sky centre is based on the George Eliot Hospital site, so there is a footprint in Warwickshire, and a number of services, and staff are locally based.
9. Publication
Information in this form is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and other legislation. Unless the information provided is covered by an exemption and stated to be either confidential or partly confidential, the information contained in the form will be published on the OPCC website.
Comments from the Treasurer
The budgeted costs of the service are included in the OPCC budget and are in line with the assumed costs in the medium-term financial plan. A number of costs are still to be determined to make the site fit for purpose and to achieve CQC compliance. This work is ongoing, is referenced in part in the Co-commissioning agreement, and appropriate financing for the costs will need to be identified.
Comments from the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer
This collaboration agreement binds the partners together to deliver sexual health assault services within the region. These services will be predominantly delivered for Warwickshire residents at the SARC in Nuneaton.
