Councillor Kieran Murphy left the committee room for this item due to a pecuniary interest.

The Interim Assistant Director, Integrated Services and Commissioning, Wirral Council presented the report of the Director of Adults, Health and Strategic Commissioning which provided a description of the co-production activity to procure and award the Adult Social Care Advocacy Service which was due to end on 8 June 2027 after the current contract extension. The report described the co-production and co-design work that would be undertaken during the extension period to prepare a new specification for a new service and requested that the award of the contract for the new service (in 2026) was delegated to the Director of Adults, Health, and Strategic Commissioning.

The Council had a statutory duty under the Care Act to provide independent Mental Capacity Act advocacy, Mental Health Act advocacy and Care Act Advocacy to support people going through the assessment processes. It was highlighted that the Hub would be able to assist and promote non-statutory services which included encouraging individuals or groups to represent themselves and peer advocacy organisations could be supported to bring forward ideas.

Members asked about funding for non-statutory services and the use of a 2.2% inflation figure in the calculations.

Resolved - That

1. The re-specification and commissioning of a new Adult Social Care Advocacy Service using co-production and co-design processes with people who use the service, their families and supporters be approved.

2. The carrying out of a procurement process and award of the contract for new service, to start in 2027, be delegated to the Director of Adults, Health, and Strategic Commissioning, at an indicative cost of £391,016 per year.

Councillor Kieran Murphy returned to the meeting.