The Director of Public Health has decided to extend the Memorandum of Understanding between Wirral Borough Council and the Probation Service North West dated 31 March 2023 and accept further funding from the Probation Service North West in order to continue to provide enhanced support for people with a drug or alcohol treatment need in the criminal justice system and to approve a variation of the existing drug and alcohol treatment contract for Wirral with Change Grow Live Services in the sum of £212,048 for the period 1 February 2025 to 30 September 2026.

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 reoffending by addressing those issues that are likely to cause or encourage criminal behaviour.

The aim is to establish best practice and enhance joint working relationships between the Probation Service, Local Authority and Substance Misuse Services. This will be achieved by defining clear and concise support pathways for individuals within the Criminal Justice System who have issues with addiction and by ongoing service development and improvement year on year.

Working in collaboration, all services will ensure that those individuals that have been sentenced to an Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR) or Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) and/or are released from prison or subject of a referral from probation services, will receive personalised support that is tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Teams will ensure that they review what substance(s) an individual has issues with, where they are in their recovery journey and where they want to be, whilst reviewing their current risk and need level.

There is a Memorandum of Understanding between Wirral Council and Probation Service North West for the co-commissioning of rehabilitative and resettlement interventions which both parties wish now to extend.

This MoU sets out the funding to be transferred to Wirral Council from Probation Service North West up to 30 September 2026 as set out below:

2024/25 - £23,315 delivery costs
2025/26 - £125,822 delivery costs
2026 - £ 62,911 delivery costs (6 months)

On receipt of funding, Wirral Council will then be able to issue a contract variation of the existing drug and alcohol treatment contract for Wirral to continue to provide enhanced support for people with a drug or alcohol treatment need in the criminal justice system.

The Council could decide not to extend the MOU and not to vary the contract for drug and alcohol treatment. However, this would prevent both parties from building on our existing relationships and working in partnership locally to help negate any duplication of services and ensure individuals that have been sentenced to an Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR) or Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) and/or are released from prison or subject of a referral from probation services, will receive personalised support that is tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.

The decision has been taken under Part 3 Section C - Overview and Scheme of Delegations of Authority to Officers as the decision is not reserved to a Committee or Sub-Committee and the Director is satisfied that paragraphs 2(a) to 2(c) apply.

Background Papers

Wirral Council Public Health Contract (DN406009): Community Substance Misuse Services. Invitation to Tender (ITT) Scope and Contract Specification for the supply of Community Substance Misuse Services. Contract Reference: DN406009