Purpose

This paper seeks approval for the Local
Authority’s continued financial contribution to the
long-standing Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) contract held by
the North West London Integrated Care Board (NW ICB), delivered by
Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH). It includes
funding for statutory SALT services for children and young people
with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), as well as an
additional contribution to support an integrated Speech Therapist
post within the Council’s Joint Communication Team. The paper
outlines the strategic importance of this provision in meeting
statutory duties, promoting early intervention, and improving
access to services, particularly for children who may not meet EHCP
thresholds.

Decision

1.    
Approves the annual financial contribution of £638,753
towards the contract held by Northwest London Integrated Care Board
for Speech and Language Therapy services provided by Central London
Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) for five years from March
2025 to April 2030, for a total of £3,193,765.
 
2.    
Approves an additional financial contribution of £71,636 per
annum towards the contract held by the Northwest London Integrated
Care Board for Speech and Language Therapy services provided by
Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) for an
integrated Speech Therapist post within the Council’s Joint
Communication Team for a period of five years, for a total of
£358,180.
 

Reasons for the decision

The decision enables the Local
Authority to discharge its statutory duties in securing provision
specified in Section F of the EHC Plan (s.42 Children and Families
Act 2014) whilst supporting ongoing transformation work in
developing a robust ordinarily available offer that supports
meeting speech, language and communication needs earlier and
without the need for an EHC Plan.
 

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Agree to
the financial contributions for the Speech and Language services,
recommendations one and two. (Recommended)
 
1.    
This will secure existing provision enabling the Local Authority to
continue to meet its statutory responsibilities for those children
and young people who continue to require access to specialist
Speech and Language Therapy services whilst investing in early
intervention services and provision to meet needs.
 
2.    
This is an existing contractual arrangement held by the NWL ICB.
The service is not being re-procured but continued under the
current contract, to which the Local Authority contributes
annually. This approach maintains continuity of provision and
supports the development of a long-term strategic relationship with
the ICB.
 
Option 2: Do not
agree the financial contribution and instead procure the provision
of Speech and Language Therapy services independently. (Not
recommended)
 
3.    
This option involves the Council withdrawing its financial
contribution to the NWL ICB and commissioning Speech and Language
Therapy services directly. This option would have an adverse impact
on the financial efficiency of the service for the Local Authority
and disrupt the continuity of the service for children and young
people.
 
4.    
By pooling procurement activity via the NWL ICB, the Council can
leverage greater market influence and secure better value for
money. The Local Authority does not have sufficient volume or scale
to drive market competition independently, and standalone
commissioning would likely result in higher costs and reduced
efficiency.
 
5.    
Some children and young people receiving Speech and Language
Therapy services access both health and education provision.
Contributing to the ICB enables therapist consistency and
streamlines service provision across these domains. Independent
commissioning would risk fragmentation of services and loss of
continuity for young people accessing the service.
 
6.    
Continued contribution to the ICB supports a long-term strategic
relationship that strengthens joint working and integrated service
delivery. Procuring independently would undermine this
collaborative approach and reduce opportunities for system-wide
transformation. This option is therefore not recommended.
 
Option 3: Do not
agree the financial contributions for the Speech and Language
services, recommendations one and two. (Not recommended)
 
7.    
The Council would not be able to meet its statutory
responsibilities if funding and in turn provision was to cease.
 
Option 4: Agree the
financial contributions for the Speech and Language services
(Option 1) but do not agree funding to support development of an
integrated early intervention offer (Option 2). (Not
recommended)
 
8.    
Whilst the Council would meet its statutory obligations through
recommendation one, not approving recommendation two would
significantly impact the provision of an early intervention speech
and language offer detailed in paragraph three of this report. This
option is therefore not recommended.