This report is seeking approval for the re-commissioning of an integrated substance use service for adults and young people resident within the county of Herefordshire.  The report sets out the key information relating to the current service provision and the ambitions for the re-commissioned service to commence on 1st December 2020.

The overall aim of the service continues to be to reduce the harm to people, their families and their communities caused by the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

That:

(a)       authority is delegated to the director for adults and wellbeing to initiate a competitive procurement exercise for the recommissioning of Substance Use services to maintain current service continuity and allow for further development of the young person’s element;

(b)       the service is recommissioned using the current evidence based model and with additional funding of £93,000 per annum to support identified gaps in provision for young people and in order to mitigate some of the recruitment and retention challenges which the service has faced over the last 5 years;

(c)       subject to the completion of a tendering process, authority to award a contract for an integrated substance use service for 5 years with a total value of £7,481,658,  is delegated to the director of adult services, in consultation with the s151 officer and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

1.         Allow the contract to expire at the end of the contract period.  This option is not recommended due to the detrimental impact this would have on current and future service users, and the wider impact on primary and secondary care providers who would become responsible for supporting in the region of 600 service users requiring physiological, pharmacological support or both.

2.         Continue to commission a substance use service using the current model and financial envelope.  Whilst the current treatment model is fit for purpose and does produce tangible outcomes for service users there is a lack of capacity in resourcing to address unmet need for young people in the county (see appendix 2) or to effectively manage recruitment and retention issues therefore this option is not recommended.