New mental health service for children in Essex could cost more than £14 million a year
Councillors will be deciding on recommissioning the service today (19 January)
Councillors in Essex will be deciding on new mental health services for children and young people today (19 January).
Since 2015, the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service has been commissioned collaboratively by Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Thurrock Council and NHS partners as an integrated service.
The current contract is due to end in January 2022, and so councillors are looking at recommissioning it.
The total forecast budget for the new service is £14.2 million a year, of which the county council will contribute £1.942 million per annum.
But, the alternative would require Essex County Council to commission their own service.
In comparison with the projected cost of the new service, the previous model of providing the service, which ceased in 2015/16, required the council to invest just over £2 million annually.
A report submitted to the council proposes Essex County Council "continues to work in a collaborative way to commission an integrated service when the existing contract expires in January 2022".