This report outlines a proposed additional allocation of funding to the Healthy Child Programme for 0–19-year-olds currently held by Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people in Wirral.

The proposed actions affect all Wards within the borough. This is not a key decision.

This decision is aligned to the Council strategic priorities, the Wirral Plan theme Brighter Futures, and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy priority To ensure the best start in life for all children and young people.

Resolved – That the Director of Public Health approved an allocation of additional funding of £195,112

This additional financial allocation will support services to address a backlog of contacts/pressures resulting from COVID-19 restrictions and the direct impact on children and young people’s mental and physical health of the pandemic.

Undertaking a procurement process to secure the additional support was discounted as services need to be in place as soon as practicable after the start of the 2021-22 academic year. Extending this funding allocation will enable the service to build on the achievements of last year.

Not funding additional support presents a risk of not addressing mental and physical health issues presented by our children and young people at the earliest opportunity resulting in longer term problems.