Decision ref
0065 2025/26
Decision date
30/12/2025
Portfolio
Adult Social Care and Health
Wards
All wards
Title
To Direct Award the Building Attachment and Bonds Service contract for 12 months.
Summary
To direct award the contract, to Mersey Care NHS for the delivery of the Building Attachments and Bonds Service (BAB's), utilising Family Hubs funding
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to recommend the direct award of the current contract in respect of the Building Attachment and Bonds Service (BABS). Since 2014 BABS has been commissioned across a number of neighbouring Merseyside Borough’s (Knowsley, Sefton and Wigan).
BABS is a specialist, therapeutic Parent-Infant Mental Health Service (PIMHS) which supports vulnerable/at risk parents with ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) to build good, secure bonds and attachment relationships with their babies and break negative transgenerational cycles, offering significant cost savings for the Integrated Care System in both the short and long term.
Research has evidenced how sadly many children do not have a secure bond and attachment with their parents during the early years. The antenatal period provides the greatest window of opportunity to engage our most vulnerable parents who have experienced ACES and need specialist, psychotherapeutic parent-infant interventions to improve parenting capacity and help parents to separate out their past/present issues from impacting on their relationships with their baby.
Background
Background
St Helens was ranked in 2021 as 26th most deprived local authority in the UK out of 317. It is estimated that 30% of families live in poverty. The number of Cared for Children in St Helens has been reported considerably higher (121 children per 10,000), than comparable regional and national averages (St Helens, JSNA 2019)
Despite, the high levels of vulnerability and health inequalities - St Helens has been praised for its joint, integrated commissioning and delivery of care. St Helens is 1 of the 75 boroughs in the UK chosen for ‘Best Start for Life’ (BSFL) DfE funding which will support families via the delivery of community Family Hubs, to give our youngest of children (0-5) ‘the best start in life’.
Thus, the offer of BABS and the service’s integrated PIMH model of care is in line with St Helens integrated MDT partnerships, community Family Hubs/Children Centres and the development of the new Families First programme development.
Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health is a key priority in the Best Start for Life Programme. This is reflected in the funding has been attached to the workstream. With the expectation that commissioned services are complimentary to local Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health service provision, addressing gaps in provision and making services and support more accessible, for this most vulnerable group.
Specialist Parent Infant Mental Health (PIMH) support/provision has been a huge gap in St Helens, prior to the implementation of Family Hubs and the associated commissioned services. BABS is seen to be a much needed to support the many vulnerable parents and infants living in the community.
The levels of need have been recognised by Merseyside’s Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), who have provided a significant contribution to the funding of the St Helens BABS service and have again committed to further years funding.
As the provider of other key, inter-linked 0-5 services within the St Helens Borough (including Perinatal Mental Health, Maternal Mental Health Services and IAPT) Mersey Care can integrate the BABS model within the borough’s wider 0-5 offer and enrich the enhanced Parent Infant Mental Health and Perinatal pathway for vulnerable and complex families via delivery of a collaborative, strength-based model of psychotherapeutic Interventions. Mersey Care works closely in partnership with Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and has good pathways and referrals into the 0-19 Service and Health Child Programme.
9. Direct Awards
9.1.5 Additional or repeat goods, services or works –
(i) where the Goods, Services or Works are intended as an extension to, or partial replacement of existing Goods, Services or Works and where a change of supplier would result in the Council receiving Goods, Services or Works that are incompatible with the existing Goods, Services or Works and the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.
Conclusion
In conclusion we would want to progress with the commissioning of the BABS programme, which is a fundamental element of the St Helens Family Hub delivery model, until 31st March 2026. During the next 12 months it is expected there will be confirmation as to whether there will be further Family Hubs funding available beyond 2026 and also how any programme objectives will be prioritised.
Risk Implications
If we do not continue to commission the BAB's programme we will not be delivering on one of the priority areas set out by the DfE, under the Family Hubs programme. This could result in the DfE withholding funding from the LA. Also, if the programme is not provided, we will not address the needs of families with higher level of need, where there can be a long term impact for the child and parent/carer. There is also a risk that the programme will not deliver the expected outcomes.
Measures to Redress Risk
The contract aims to support children and families, where there is a higher level of need, due to the experiences of ACE's. The provision of the service has had a positive impact for both the child and parent/carer to date, by in forming more positive attachment, which are the building blocks for a child's long term outcomes.
Declarations Of Interest
None
Equality Impact Assessment
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More information
Please contact Vicky Velasco on 01744 673488
