Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health that sought approval to extend the existing Lead Provider Domiciliary Care Contracts and detailed an update on work taking place in relation to Domiciliary Care.

Decision Made:      That:

(1)           the current Lead Provider contracts for Areas 1, 2, 3 and 6 be extended for a further twelve months (from 1^st August 2021 onwards) as is provided for in the Contract, as detailed in paragraph 1.3 to the report, be approved;

(2)           the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care be granted delegated authority to make any decisions on the making of any final twelve-month extensions (after the proposed extension period), be approved; and

(3)           the work taking place within the Domiciliary Care sector, be noted.

 Reasons for the Recommendations:

To ensure that Lead Provider contract arrangements remain thus ensuring that current services and commissioning processes are maintained.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.    Not extending current Lead Provider contracts and re-procuring services – this option was considered and rejected as there is a need to ensure market stability at a time where the sector is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and there is uncertainty around both the duration of the pandemic and the longer-term ramifications of it.  In addition, should the tender for Areas 4 and 5 of Sefton commence, then any further procurement exercises may impact on the stability of the sector.  It is also recognised that the current situation has identified opportunities to review new ways of working that have been implemented to respond to the pandemic, which could then be permanently implemented into new models of service, both for Domiciliary Care but also wider models of service linked to further supporting strategic aims around creating and maintaining Service User independence.

2.    Extending contracts for the permitted two-year period – this option was considered and rejected as it was viewed that this extension period option was too long and that should new ways of working (as outlined in point 1 above) be identified, then they could be implemented as soon as practicable.