Purpose

This report seeks agreement of the variation to the Section 75 agreement between the NHS North Central London (NCL) Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Camden Council to include speech and language therapy services. The contract for the service is held between the ICB and the Whittington Health NHS Trust. Following this decision, the ICB can vary that contract through its own governance processes.  This report is also seeking agreement that Family Hubs grant funding is incorporated within the Section 75 Agreement with the ICB. Following this decision, the ICB can fund the service through its contract with Whittington Health NHS Trust. Subject to approval, the variation will take effect from the date of the decision and continue until 31 March 2029. Grant funding to will be backdated to cover the period from 1 July 2026 during which services have been delivered. No payments have been made to date for this time period.

The service will contribute to meeting Camden’s Good Level of Development (GLD) targets, providing support across health, education, family hub services and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) partners to increase early identification of communication and language delay and delivery of evidence-based interventions. The service is funded through the Department for Education (DfE)/ Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programme (2026-2029) with a total cost of £378,217.20

This report is coming to the Executive Director Children & Learning as it is a matter which not reserved to any Council body and is therefore deemed to be delegated to the relevant Executive Director.

Decision

THAT the Executive Director Children and Learning:

1. Approves the variation of the Section 75 agreement between Camden Council and the NHS North Central London (NCL)Integrated Care Board (ICB) to include speech and language therapy services.
2. Approves the incorporation of Family Hubs grant funding for the sum of £378,217.20 within the Section 75 Agreement with the ICB.