Decision details

To explore and approve the extension of existing contracts

It has been agreed to extend the contracts for the provision of North Yorkshire Horizons (specialist adult drug and alcohol service) and North Yorkshire RISE (specialist young people’s drug and alcohol service) to 31 March 2026.

A Key Decision was taken on 3 November 2023 to approve the extension of contracts for the provision of North Yorkshire Horizons (specialist adult drug and alcohol service) and North Yorkshire RISE (specialist young people's drug and alcohol service) to 30 September 2025, to enable the council and partners to embark on a service transformation programme. A number of local contextual developments meant that there was a unique opportunity to review the services that directly support and contribute support to people who experience harmful substance use.

Significant progress has been made to thoroughly review and explore an appropriate, cost effective and evidenced based future substance use services operating model, including opportunities to co-commission with other partners, and cement the role of the council in providing statutory and non-statutory services to people who use substances.

New substance use service arrangements will be implemented from 1 April 2026. A further 6-month extension to existing contracts will ensure that we can safely and effectively conclude the transformation programme and mobilise new arrangements.

New substance use service arrangements will be implemented from 1 April 2026. This is the minimum timeframe that a transformation programme of this nature, value and scale can be delivered within.