Decision ref
0007 2026/27
Decision date
23/06/2026
Portfolio
Adult Social Care and Health
Wards
All wards
Title
Extension of the Integrated Wellbeing Service Contract
Summary
To approve a one-year extension of the Integrated Wellbeing Service contract with City Healthcare Partnership (CHCP) from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, enabling service continuity while a full recommissioning exercise is undertaken.
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to seek approval to extend the current Integrated Wellbeing Service contract by one year to ensure continuity of service delivery while allowing sufficient time to embed recent service redesign activity, evaluate impact, and undertake a robust recommissioning process.
Background
The Integrated Wellbeing Service is a key Public Health–commissioned service providing borough-wide support to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities in St Helens. The service integrates a range of lifestyle and wellbeing interventions, including smoking cessation, healthy weight management, infant feeding, physical activity, mental wellbeing, and social prescribing approaches.
The current contract includes provision for extension periods. The service is presently operating within the final contractual extension phase. Formal approval is therefore required to extend the contract for a further +1 year from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Over the last year, significant work has been undertaken by Public Health and commissioning colleagues to redesign the Integrated Wellbeing Service model. This work has focused on improving sustainability, affordability, integration, and alignment with system priorities, including prevention, health inequalities, and whole-system approaches to wellbeing.
Extending the contract will:
- Allow time to fully embed and evaluate the redesigned elements of the service,
- Maintain service stability for residents and system partners,
- Enable appropriate planning, governance, and market engagement ahead of recommissioning.
Senior colleagues, including the Director of Public Health and relevant system partners, have indicated support in principle for this approach, subject to formal governance approval.
Given the contract value, this proposal requires approval through the Council’s Delegated Executive Decision process, with subsequent Cabinet approval as required.
Conclusion
Approval of this extension represents a proportionate, low-risk approach that safeguards essential wellbeing services for residents while enabling the Council to undertake a planned and robust recommissioning exercise. The proposal supports strategic Public Health priorities and ensures continuity during a period of transformation and evaluation.
Risk Implications
Service continuity risk - If approval is not secured in time, the Council risks a gap in provision from 1st July 2026, impacting residents’ access to key wellbeing interventions and creating avoidable demand on wider health and care services.
Governance/procurement risk - Without an approved extension, there is a risk of needing emergency arrangements (or rushed procurement), reducing value for money and increasing challenge/audit risk.
Mobilisation and delivery risk - A compressed timeline could affect mobilisation, staffing stability and performance during transition to a new contract.
Reputational/system risk - Disruption to a high-profile public health service could negatively impact partnerships and confidence in commissioning arrangements.
Measures to Redress Risk
This proposal provides a time-limited extension to maintain continuity, allow sufficient time to embed and evaluate recent service redesign, and undertake a planned recommissioning exercise with a new contract intended to commence 1st July 2027.
Declarations Of Interest
None
Equality Impact Assessment
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More information
Please contact Michelle Loughlin on 01744 671236
