To approve the direct award of a contract for up to five years to Wye Valley NHS Trust for the provision of equipment and adaptions assessments and reviews for disabled children.

The council is required to provide appropriate specialist equipment or adaptations for children with disabilities at their home or school. To identify whether a child has a specific need for equipment or adaptations, the council requires a professional assessment by a qualified occupational therapist. 

Wye ValleyNHS Trust (WVT) currently provides equipmentandadaptationsassessmentsfor disabled children on behalf of the council. This service forms part of a wider children’s therapy service that is commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It is proposed to renew the current contract with WVT for equipment and adaptations assessments. This will enable the council to continue to meet its duties while also ensuring that service users can benefit from a joined-up experience for any other therapeutic needs.

That:

(a)    The Director of Children’s and Families directly awards a contract to Wye ValleyNHS Trust (WVT) to continue provision of equipmentandadaptationsassessmentsfor disabled childrenfor three years from 1^st April 2020 to31^st March2023, with the option to extend this period for a further two yearat an anticipated maximum cost of£296,630 over the five year period.

1.         Tenderorbring theservice in-house. This option is not recommended at the current time. Thefunction is integrated with otherpediatrictherapyservices commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and delivered by WVT. The integrated nature of the service with other children’s occupational, speech and language and physio therapies means that, where appropriate, children with a range of therapeutic needs can be supported in a coordinated way.  While there are a number of sole-trader private occupational therapists that could undertake some equipment and adaptions works, the market is unlikely to be able to provide the total number of assessments needed in a year in a sustainable way. There may be future potential to jointly commission a complete therapy service with the new Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG as its priorities for children Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)are further developed.

2.         Cease the service.  This option is not recommended..  The council would fail in its statutory duty to assess and provide appropriate specialist equipment or adaptations for disabled children.