Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Social Care and Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director Social Care and Health that sought approval to commence a procurement exercise for the provision of a Supported Living Care provider service.

Decision Made:      That Cabinet approve the:

(1)      commencement of a procurement exercise to select a Supported Living Care provider to provide services for five adults with a learning disability; and

(2)      delegation of decisions to award a contract, following the procurement exercise, to the Director of Health & Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet Member- Adult Social Care.

Reason for the Decision:

A cohort of younger clients with learning disabilities and/or autism, have been assessed by Adult Social Care under the Care Act 2014, as requiring a Supported Living service.

There is currently no suitable alternative provision available for these five individuals in existing services. There is a need to achieve compatibility reflecting the age range of the young adults, and complexity of needs, and current availability does not offer this due to the difference in age ranges in provision. In addition, there is a need to ensure that the complexity of behaviours displayed by the group, are met.

Council members agreed a new model for supported living on 4th February 2016 , which included exploring larger models of accommodation. This option would enable a service to be developed which meets this model of service delivery and provides the resources required in the Borough to meet ongoing needs via an established housing provider with affordable rent levels.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

•         Placing service users in vacancies within existing services - this has been deemed unsuitable by Adult Social care due to the age range of the five individuals and complexity of their needs.

•         To maintain the current arrangements – whilst the funding responsibility  transferred to Adult Social when the young person reached 18yrs old,  they  are currently still in Children’s Services placements and could stay there until more suitable vacancies in current Adult Social Care provision becomes available. This option is not felt to be suitable by Adult Social Care as these existing services reflect outcomes for Children’s provision, whereas the opportunity to establish a new provision within the model agreed for adults will provide a more sustainable outcome for the young people and offers a more cost effective option. Opportunity will be taken to utilise assistive technology and implement an outcome based approach to support which will enhance life skills and develop independence and resilience.  

Adult Social Care has undertaken this analysis on both options but have rejected them as being unsuitable.