The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Question and officer response were noted.

DECISION

1.    To approve the commissioning of Bart’s Health via a direct award for a two year contract to deliver the following therapies provision: (a) Speech and Language Treatment (SLT) for Children in Tower Hamlets age 3-5 and (b) SLT and Occupational Therapy (OT) Treatment for Children age 0-5 with social communication difficulties (value of the contract: £343,174 per annum, total cost over two years: £686,348)

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

(Senior Commissioning Manager (J. Courtney)

Councillor Asma Begum, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Children, Youth Services, Education and Equalities introduced the report recommending the commissioning of Barts Health to provide contracts for much needed investment for therapy for under 5s with Special Educational Needs.

The first strand provided Speech and Language treatment for children aged 3 to 5 through a number of new clinical pathways. The second procurement was to provide children under 5 with suspected autism or social communication difficulties with new therapy options.

The report was asking for a Cabinet decision as it was a proposal for a direct award of the contracts. It was noted that further reports to develop this area of support would be presented to future Cabinet meetings.

The Mayor noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Question and officer response and proposed the recommendation as set out in the report. This was unanimously agreed by the Members present and it was:

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the commissioning of Bart’s Health via a direct award for a two year contract to deliver the following therapies provision: (a) Speech and Language Treatment (SLT) for Children in Tower Hamlets age 3-5 and (b) SLT and Occupational Therapy (OT) Treatment for Children age 0-5 with social communication difficulties (value of the contract: £343,174 per annum, total cost over two years: £686,348)