Decision

Approval to waiver the councils Contract Procedure Rule 2.3. to extend the implementation of a community based strength and balance offer for older people.

Funding of £92,500 from BU8 Healthier Communities has been agreed to extend the Alliance for a further 6 months until 31st March 2024.

Due to the recent NHS developments around the integrated care agenda, it has not been possible to discuss or secure the finances from an NHS perspective at this point, which is the proposal for the longer term.

Reasons for the decision

Developing a coordinated approach to the community-based strengh and balanced programme is a local priority and aimed to achieve a number of outcomes for older people including increased levels of physical activity, maintenance or improvement in independence, and formed a key part in the falls prevention agenda, in turn impacting positively on the wider Health and Social Care system.

The purpose of this further extension will enable the new NHS (ICB) arrangements to be embedded with a view to developing a longer term approach for commissioning to be agreed and in place from 1st April 2024. The Alliance structure that has been developed over last 18 months is a programme that requires a local supplier(s) to deliver the service in a number of different centres/communities across the Borough.

This Alliance model has been found to be successful in implementing support over the past year. Continuing this service will maintain the delivery of a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to strength and balance support in Barnsley so that anyone can benefit from increased levels of physical activity, independence and reduction in the risk of falls.

Alternative options considered

It would require additional cost and administration for either the Council or another identified supplier without the relevant expertise and local knowledge to continue to develop and implement this service in the time-frame.