This report seeks approval for Wirral Council, as commissioner of drug and alcohol services in Wirral, to receive transfer of funds from Probation Service North West, allocated for partnership working between drug and alcohol treatment services and the criminal justice system.

This work has been developed jointly between Wirral Council and HM Probation Delivery Unit Wirral, in order to vary the existing contract for Change Grow Live Service Ltd, (CGL) Community Substance Misuse Public Health Contract.

The aim is to establish joint working relationships between The Probation Service, Local Authority and substance misuse services, through defining clear and concise support pathways for individuals within the Criminal Justice System, who have issues with addiction. 

Resolved – That the Director of Public Health has approved the transfer of funds from Probation Service North West to Wirral Council in order to provide enhanced support for people with a drug or alcohol treatment need in the criminal justice system, via a variation of the existing drug and alcohol treatment contract for Wirral. 

A request was received from Probation Service North West to work in partnership with Wirral Council in providing substance misuse services to people on probation. Part of Probation’s business case was to employ specialist organisations (existing local treatment providers) to provide rehabilitative interventions to reduce re-offending by tackling their criminogenic needs.

Whilst the Probation Service did have the opportunity to go out to tender at a National Level, they were concerned that his may have led to confusion for the Probation Practitioners but more importantly the service users, in relation to which services each provider would deliver. The Probation Service felt that building on our existing relationships and working in partnership locally is the best approach. This would avoid any confusion and negate any duplication of services. 

The option of the probation service going out to tender at a National Level was considered, however, for the reasons stated in 1.2 above it was considered that this would lead to confusion and that partnership working was the best approach.

Were the Council to not accept this transfer of funds, Wirral residents would not receive any enhanced service for people in the criminal justice system with a drug or alcohol treatment need.