Decision details

The Director of Public Health notes –

Leeds City Council received £10.4 million from the Government to support the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding supports proactive and preventative evidence-based measures informed by the Leeds Outbreak Plan. A local contact tracing service was developed and launched in December 2020 with funding until the end of November 2021 (Significant Operational Decision dated 25th January 2021 - D52672). Funding from the Council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund will be used to continue funding two elements of the Leeds COVID-19 Local Contact Tracing Service from the 1st December 2021 until the 31st March 2022 as part of the public health response to COVID-19.

The Local Contact Tracing Service in Leeds is an important part of reducing and then limiting the spread of COVID-19. The two elements of the service (Leeds City Council Contact Centre and Connect and Support Community Outreach facilitated by the third sector, led by Better Together) are integral to reaching positive cases and reducing transmission. The contact centre will try to contact people who have not been contacted by the national track and trace service. People not contacted by the contact centre will be referred to the Connect and Support Community Outreach Service.
It is anticipated that the total cost to continue to fund the Local Contract Tracing Service for an additional 4 months from December 2021 – March 2022 will be approximately £230,000. The two elements of the Local Contact Tracing Service which need to continue to be delivered are detailed below.

Staffing for the Local Contact Tracing Service - £180,000

Number Role Duration Approx. cost per month
20 x FTE (B3)


1 x FTE (S02) Customer Service Officers


Team Leader 1st December 2021 to 31st March 2022

1st December 2021 to 31st March 2022 £41,777



£3,223


Total Cost from 1st December 2021 to 31st March 2022 £180,000

The approximate total cost for staffing for the Leeds Contract Tracing Service from 1st December 2021 to 31st March 2022 is £180,000. Funding will be transferred through internal recharges based on actual costs on a quarterly basis.

Connect and Support Community Outreach - £50,000

A further grant will be awarded to existing providers of the Better Together programme detailed below in order to enhance capacity to provide community outreach from 1st January to 31st March 2022:
• £15,807.50 grant to Health for All (Leeds) Ltd (working in partnership with Asha and Hamara)
• £9,927 grant to Barca - Leeds
• £24,265.50 grant to Feel Good Factor (Leeds) (working in partnership with Shantona, Space 2, Touchstone and Zest)
The Connect and Support Community Outreach Service will work with local people, community networks and community-based services to develop effective approaches to connect and support people with COVID-19 in the community and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.