Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report on the 0-19 Children's Public Health Programme: Partnership with Harrogate & District Foundation Trust.

The report provided the background and detail for the proposed partnership with Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) to deliver Public Health 0 to 19 Health & Wellbeing Programme through the mechanism of an agreement made under section 75 of the National Health Services Act 2006 between partners (NHS bodies and local authorities).

The proposed Section 75 agreement included arrangements for delegating the functions described in the report to the NHS partner. Delegation was permitted where it if it would lead to an improvement in the way those functions were exercised.

The health-related functions, detailed within the paper were part of a wider programme of support which consisted of health visiting, school nursing and children and family’s healthy weight, infant feeding and nutrition services. These services were more commonly known as ‘0 to 19’ and ‘Growing well, growing healthy’. Services were delivered by HDFT through an existing contract which commenced 01 April 2018 and expires 31 March 2024.

The programme aimed to promote the health and wellbeing of families and children aged 0-19 or up to age 25 with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). It offered practical advice, interventions, and support on a range of topics related to parenting, health, and wellbeing.

The service also worked in partnership with other services and agencies to support and enable families to access health information and services appropriate to their needs such as primary and secondary care, family hubs, children’s services, voluntary organisations and nurseries amongst many others.

The report set out:

•           The background of the Programme

•           The strategic alignment to the Local Authority’s approach to Transformation, Powering our Future and the Fairer Stockton-on-Tees framework to improve outcomes for communities in the Borough and address inequalities, particularly health inequalities for children, young people and adults.

•           The proposed use of a Section 75 Agreement to delegate the specific health-related functions to HDFT under the Section 75 of the National Health Act 2006

RESOLVED that:-

1. The background and the alignment to the strategic direction of the Council be noted. The summary of evidence used to inform the commissioning approach was outlined in an appendix to the report.

2. The use of a Section 75 Agreement under Section 75 of The National Health Service Act 2006 be agreed.

3. The responsibility for agreeing and finalising the terms of a new Section 75 Agreement be delegated to the Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing and Director of Corporate Services through their authorised officers in line with the Council’s Schemes of Delegation.